By Kang Hyun-kyung
President Lee Myung-bak nominated a veteran telecommunications expert Tuesday to head the Korea Communications Commission, which was vacated after Lee’s confidant stepped down weeks ago.
Lee Kye-cheol, 72, a former vice minister of now-defunct Ministry of Information and Communication, will replace Choi See-joong, if he is approved by the National Assembly.
Presidential spokesman Park Jeong-ha told reporters that President Lee chose the former government official given his extensive experience in the telecommunications area and strong work ethic while in office.
The nominee will be able to manage the tough job of drawing up and implementing policies for broadcasts and communications well, Park said.
His predecessor, Choi, left the office in January due to a corruption scandal involving his aide.
Lee also named Lee Dal-gon, a former minister of public administration and security, to senior presidential secretary for political affairs.
Lee tapped the former Cabinet minister for the key post days after Kim Hyo-jae resigned to take responsibility for his alleged involvement in a vote-buying scandal.
Kim, who previously worked for former National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae when Park ran in the leadership contest of the ruling party in 2008, is accused of having orchestrated a cash-for-votes scheme to help his boss win the competition.
Lee Dal-gon, 60, served as lawmaker briefly from 2008 to 2009 before assuming the Cabinet post.
Before joining the political arena, Lee was a Seoul National University professor having taught public administration.
According to the presidential office, President Lee selected him in the hope that his extensive experience in the academic field, the legislature and government will facilitate communications with the Assembly and the ruling party.