Byun Jae-jin

By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun Wednesday promoted Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Byun Jae-jin, 53, as the health-welfare minister.

Byun replaces Rhyu Si-min, who rejoined the pro-government Uri Party as a lawmaker after serving for the past 13 months.

Born in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, in 1953, Byun began his bureaucratic career in 1975 and worked at several ministries, such as the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Planning and Budget.

He also served in the Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development in 2004, as a presidential secretary. He received a doctorate from the University of Hawaii.

``Byun is a civil servant who worked at major economy-related ministries,'' Park Nam-choon, senior presidential secretary for personnel affairs, said.

Park said Cheong Wa Dae expects Byun to be in the vanguard for the revisions of the National Pension Fund Law and the Medical Law.

The nominee will go through a parliamentary confirmation hearing, although the National Assembly does not have any legal power to block the appointment.

kys@koreatimes.co.kr