Senior secretary for economic affairs appointed

Kim Dae-ki

President Lee Myung-bak yesterday appointed the former head of Statistics Korea, Kim Dae-ki, as his new senior secretary for economic affairs.

Kim, 55, is Choi Joong-kyung’s successor, who was named minister of knowledge economy last month.

A native of South Gyeongsang, Kim studied economics at Seoul National University and passed the civil service exam in 1978. He has served in various key posts at the Ministry of Planning and Budget under former President Roh Moo-hyun. From 2008 to 2009, he headed Statistics Korea, the government office handling the country’s statistical information.

From April 2009 to August 2010, Kim served as vice minister at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“Kim is a veteran budget and planning expert equipped with experience in various fields and a wide perspective in policy making,” said presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung. “We expect him to play a role in deciding the direction of economic policy and assisting ministries with his thorough character and great abilities.”

Insiders at the Blue House interpreted Kim’s appointment as a move to balance personnel appointments among economic policy makers in the government. The top economic decision-makers in the Lee administration are officials with career backgrounds in the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun, Knowledge Economy Minister Choi, Financial Services Commission head Kim Seok-dong and Fair Trade Commission head Kim Dong-soo have all worked at key posts in the Finance Ministry. Presidential Chief of Staff Yim Tae-hee also used to work at the Finance Ministry.

By Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]

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