Jihoon Kim appointed as deputy secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene

On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced several new nominations and appointments to her administration, among them was Jihoon Kim, who was appointed as the state’s new deputy secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene.

"In New York, we are working toward a better, brighter future for generations to come – there is no doubt in my mind that these are the best people to bring on to our team with that goal in mind," Hochul said. "With diverse backgrounds and wide-ranging experience, this team brings invaluable knowledge to the table. New Yorkers can rest assured that these positions are filled with individuals who will fight for them and with their best interests at heart."

Kim, a licensed master social worker in New York, most recently worked for the state as the special assistant to the executive deputy commissioner at the Office of Mental Health. In this role, Kim was responsible for providing oversight for eight different state agencies and was charged with coordinating policy initiatives. Prior to that, Kim served the New York Attorney General as the deputy director of legislative affairs.

After Hochul took office on Aug. 24, she gave herself 45 days to begin replacing members of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration who may have been embroiled in the former governor’s multiple scandals. “It is no secret that the governor and I weren’t close,” Hochu told Spectrum News after taking over the gubernatorial helm. “He had his own tight inner circle. I created my own space.”

As Hochul has been slowly picking off Cuomo loyalists, she’s also been building up her own administration and has been continuing to add people to team Hochul’s roster.