Suit is not required: President dispenses with hierarchy, formalities

• Published date: 11 May 2022
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Presiding over his first senior presidential secretary meeting, Yoon encourages staff to communicate constantly across fieldsbr br By Kang Hyun-kyungPresident Yoon Suk-yeol revealed a bit about his leadership style on Wednesday, while presiding over his first meeting with senior presidential secretaries held at his new office in Yongsan District, Seoul, on the second day of his presidency. He was frank and didn't care much about rituals and encouraged his staff to be focused on getting things done without being distracted by other less important issues, such as dress codes or bureaucratic matters.

Rather than hierarchy or formalities, an emphasis on devotion to one's work characterizes his working style. "Well, I feel awkward with this table.

We are going to have a meeting today like this in front of cameras as camera crew members from the media outlets are shooting us in a meeting because they said they needed this," he said during his opening remarks. "Today is an exception.

They won't be able to shoot the opening of this meeting again. So, feel free and bring up any topics you'd like to share with others here.

"His opening remarks were said in front of the assembled media, while the rest of the meeting was held behind closed doors. Yoon said that no suits or official attire will be needed to be worn by presidential staff to attend the meeting, noting there will be no dress code.

"So feel free to wear anything you feel comfortable with, when you attend this meeting from next time," he said. A prosecutor-turned-president, Yoon stressed professionalism and devotion to work as core values for presidential secretaries, encouraging his staff to communicate constantly with others in different fields as much as they can, working until the "soles of their shoes are worn out," a Korean saying meaning to work very diligently.

He said that he hopes his aides can be more devoted to their work, be in solidarity with each other to share and protect freedom, communicate organically without barriers and be problem solvers."Although we have separate presidential secretaries handling political affairs, economic affairs and foreign policy and security, this doesn't mean that their jurisdictions are clearly defined.

In most of the cases, the lines are blurry. I think they should share and exchange their views with...