Tax office chief tapped as presidential policy chief

The head of South Korea's national tax office will be named the new policy chief at the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, as part of the sweeping replacement of presidential staff following the ruling Grand National Party (GNP)'s election defeat last month, an informed source said Tuesday.

Baek Yong-ho, commissioner of the National Tax Service (NTS), has been dubbed "economy tutor" for President Lee Myung-bak for his grasp of the Lee administration's economic policy.

Baek, who worked as chief of the Fair Trade Commission for a year from 2008, has been pushing for the reform of the NTS since taking office last year.

The president has also picked Yoo Jin-ryong, former vice culture minister and current professor at Eulji University in Daejeon, as his new senior secretary for public affairs, the source said, adding Cheong Wa Dae plans to announce the appointments later in the day.

Rep. Chung Jin-suk, a three-term lawmaker and chair of the National Assembly's intelligence committee, is widely expected to be appointed the new top presidential secretary for political affairs.

"Rep. Chung is the strongest candidate and Cheong Wa Dae is waiting for his decision," the source said. It is customary, albeit not legally binding, here for a lawmaker to give up his or her parliamentary seat to take up a government post.

"I need to wait a little bit more, as I have received just an indirect offer," Chung told Yonhap News Agency in a phone interview.

He indicated that he would accept the proposal if formally made, saying, "I think I should serve for public benefits at a time when the country is in trouble, although it has been only a month since I assumed the post of the head of the National Assembly's intelligence committee."

The choice of Chung, if confirmed, is viewed as a reflection the president's efforts to improve communication with political circles.

Chung worked as a reporter for the Hankook Ilbo, a Seoul-based daily, from 1985 to 1999.

Park In-joo, head of the National Institute for Lifelong Education, is reportedly among candidates for the newly created post of senior secretary for social integration.

Kim Sung-hwan, senior secretary for foreign affairs and security, is expected to be retained.