President Park Geun-hye on Monday appointed Woo Byung-woo, a former senior prosecutor, the new secretary for civil affairs, and Kwon Oh-chang, a former judge, the new secretary for civil service discipline. Another former judge, Kim Hak-joon, was named the new presidential secretary for civil petitions assigned to handle public complaints filed with Cheong Wa Dae.

Woo, who served as a senior prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, led the bribery investigation involving former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2009. He left the prosecution last year.

Kwon was a judge at the Supreme Court and joined Park’s presidential campaign team in 2010 to support her in terms of political and juridical affairs.

The new civil petitions secretary is also a former judge. Kim served as a senior judge at Seoul Southern District Court. He currently works at local law firm Kim and Chang.

The appointments of the three secretaries under the Office of Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs were seen as Cheong Wa Dae’s move to carry out a shake-up and revive discipline in the top office.

Park is also likely to name secretaries for government information and tourism soon, as the two posts become vacant after two officials ― Baek Ki-seung and Ryu Jeong-ah ― offered to resign last week.

Baek, the former secretary for government information, offered to resign last week, saying he was leaving to initiate change in the office. Baek was one of Park’s close aides who has supported her since 2007 when she sought the presidential candidacy for the Grand National Party, the predecessor of the ruling Saenuri Party.

Former tourism secretary Ryu also stepped down from her post citing personal issues.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)