Minister Kang to Head Council on Competitiveness
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Strategy and Finance Minister Kang Man-soo will be named the chairman of the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness (PCNP) after being replaced by Yoon Jeung-hyun, chairman of the Financial Supervisory Service, sources said Thursday.
Sakong Il, presidential advisor on the economy, recently resigned from the position of the PCNP chairman to focus on preparations for the Group of 20 summit, scheduled for April in London.
``President Lee has asked Kang to succeed Sakong and continue to play an important role in forming the country's economic policies,'' a source from Cheong Wa Dae said.
On Monday, Cheong Wa Dae announced a Cabinet shakeup affecting two ministers and 12 other senior officials, including Kang.
At the time, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said, ``We expect Yoon, the nominee for the country's top economic policymaking position, to help restore trust in the market and help tide over the ongoing economic woes.''
Kang, 63, had been under pressure to resign over his currency policies. Critics say his export and growth-oriented policies have caused damage to firms and households at a time when the global recession is deepening.
Cheong Wa Dae officials said President Lee still has confidence in Kang and wants him to play a key role in reviving the economy.