Professor named secretary general of presidential body on reunification

President Lee Myung-bak has named a scholar on the economy and welfare as the new secretary general of a presidential advisory body on reunification policy, Lee's office Cheong Wa Dae announced Thursday.

Lee Sang-jik, professor of welfare at Hoseo University, replaces Kim Byoung-il as secretary general of the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC), a vice ministerial post. The president is the chair of the council that explores ways the two Koreas could unify. More than 17,000 Koreans at home and abroad belong to the council.

Lee, 51, studied economics at Yeungnam University and worked as a professor at Daegu Polytechnics. He also served as vice chairman of the Korean Association for Corruption Studies.

He led a nationwide civilian group to support Lee's presidential campaign in 2007. (Yonhap)