By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Chung Chung-kil, president of Ulsan University, has been designated as new presidential chief of staff to replace the incumbent Yu Woo-ik, President Lee Myung-bak said Friday.
The 66-year-old native of Haman, South Gyeongsang Province, is considered an expert on public administration unlike his predecessor who is a geography professor.
He is also acknowledged for his networking skills, having close ties with figures from various walks of life. Chung was said to have reluctantly accept the offer, after previously declining to become the minister of education and science.
Chung has written 10 books on public administration and the analysis of the economic leadership of previous presidents including the late Park Chung-hee.
However, his designation is considered a surprise to political observers who speculated Lee would not appoint another scholar to the post because Yu from Seoul National University (SNU) was said to not be good at quick decision making.
Others speculated that Yu recommended Chung for the post. They became acquainted when Chung worked as an associate professor at the Graduate School of Public Administration, SNU between 1980 and 2003. However, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said President Lee has known Chung for a long time.
The university president passed the national exam for civil servants in 1968 and worked as chief of the planning section at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 1969 to 1971.
He also had served as a commissioner for the Administrative Reform Commission for 10 years from 1988.
Chung began to teach students as an assistant professor at the department of public administration of Kyungpook National University in 1971.
He served as chairman for the Committee for Governmental Functions Readjustment between 1999 and 2000 and has headed Ulsan University since 2003.