Kim Named BOK Governor
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Kim Choong-soo, Korea's ambassador to the OECD, has been named the new Bank of Korea (BOK) governor, replacing Lee Seong-tae who ends his four-year term later this month, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.
Born in Seoul in 1947, Kim served as senior presidential secretary for economic affairs from February 2008 to June of the same year, playing a key role in setting up President Lee Myung-bak's growth-oriented policies.
One of Kim's major tasks will be to formulate a successful exit strategy while supporting an economic recovery amid growing inflation risks.
He has a strong international reputation, which will be helpful in coordinating financial issues at the G-20 Summit in November in Seoul, said presidential spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.
"A firm supporter of free trade and the market economy, Kim has been involved in the government's economic policy-making for a long time. We believe his experience and extensive economic knowledge will be useful for the creation of future monetary policies," the spokesman said.
A veteran economist, Kim headed the state-run Korea Development Institute during the previous Roh Moo-hyun administration and acted as an economic advisor to the late former President to help him form major macro-economic programs.
He also worked as a presidential secretary for economic affairs for former President Kim Young-sam in the 1990s.
Analysts expect new Governor Kim to maintain a dovish monetary stance and a weak-won currency policy to keep exports growing and interest rates low.
He doesn't need National Assembly approval to take up his new post.
Kim graduated from Seoul National University and earned a doctorate degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
김중수 한은총재 내정
이달 말 임기를 마치는 이성태 한국은행 총재 후임으로 김중수 경제협력개발기구 (OECD) 한국대사가 내정됐다고 청와대가 15일 발표했다.
김 대사는 1947년생 서울 출신으로 2008년 2월부터 6월까지 경제수석을 맡으면서 이명박 대통령의 성장 중심 정책에 주요 역할을 했던 것으로 알려져 있다.
앞으로 그는 중앙은행 총재로서 경제 회복과 더불어 성공적인 출구전략을 이끌어내는 데핵심 역할을 맡을 것으로 보인다.
박선규 청와대 대변인은 우리나라가 이번 11월 G-20 의장국으로서 경제 문제를 이끌어가는데 김 대사의 국제적 명성이 크게 도움이 될 것으로 내다봤다.
김 대사는 서울대를 졸업하고 펜실베니아 대학에서 박사학위를 받았다.