By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak's new Cabinet lineup includes key members of the former liberal administration's economic teams.
One day after Lee named Han Duck-soo, who served as prime minister and finance minister under former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, as Korea's new ambassador to the United States, the president tapped Yoon Jeung-hyun as the new minister of strategy and finance to replace Kang Man-soo.
Yoon, 62, became the head of the country's financial regulator in 2004 under former President Roh and held the title until 2007.
Since the inauguration of the Lee administration last February, he has been serving as an economic advisor to the conservative President.
Chin Dong-soo, nominee for the Financial Services Commission, and Kwon Tae-shin, designated for the chief of staff of the Prime Minister's Office, also took up key economic posts under the former presidents.
Chin worked for the Public Procurement Service and as vice finance minister during the Roh administration after serving as the senior presidential secretary of finance under former President Kim.
Kwon also served as the senior presidential secretary of planning and coordination and vice finance minister under former President Roh.
``The new ministers are strong advocates of a market economy and are widely respected for their financial expertise and strong leadership,'' a presidential spokesman said, adding, ``They worked under previous governments but President Lee thinks it doesn't matter.''
``Lee offered them the posts because they are capable of steering the country out of ongoing economic trouble,'' the spokesman said.
Analysts earlier predicted Lee would offer some Cabinet posts to Grand National Party (GNP) lawmakers but he didn't.
Lee also beat expectations that he may offer an olive branch to political rival and former GNP chairwoman Park Geun-hye by assigning some posts to her aides.
The President kept the identities of the nominees unknown even to GNP Chairman Park Hee-tae until the day of the announcement, drawing complaints from the ruling party. The GNP claimed the fact reflects a lack of communication between Cheong Wa Dae and the party, it claimed.