Chung, 63, a life-long scholar, was formerly president of Seoul National University (SNU).
Born in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, he earned his doctorate in economics from Princeton University and began his teaching career as an assistant professor at Columbia University in the United States in 1976. He returned to SNU two years later and taught students for nearly 30 years.
Chung’s name began to circulate in political circles a decade ago, after drawing attention for prolific writing and critiques of the government’s economic policies.
He was elected SNU president in a direct vote by professors in 2002. Until he stepped down in 2006, he was sometimes at odds with the government, insisting on deregulation of university management.
He was courted by both the ruling and opposition bloc ahead of the 2006 local elections.
Reports said at that time that then Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak tried to persuade him to run to succeed him.
Chung appeared to have changed his mind about politics.
After leaving SNU, he raised his public profile with nationwide public speaking tours.
But his lack of political experience outweighed his popularity as an educator ? capped with his approval ratings in the low single-digits ? and he declared that he would not run for president.
Born in Jangheung, South Jeolla Province, in 1951, Lee served as a prosecutor at the Gwangju District Prosecutors Office between 1986 and 1988 and moved to the Seoul District Prosecutors Office in 1998.
From 1991 to 1993, he served as a research prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul.
He was appointed director at the Criminal Intelligence Division of the Supreme Prosecutors Office in 2002 and began to work as director of its Central Investigation Division in 2007.
When he served as director at the Public Security Division of the office between 2006 and 2007, he was said to have made a significant achievement by rearranging punishment levels for people who violate election-related laws.
A graduate of the Korea Military Academy in 1972, Gen. Kim, 60, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), has served as field commander, liaison officer and chief policy and operational planner at the ministry and the JCS throughout his career.
A native of Seoul, he previously served as commanding general of the 6th Artillery Brigade (1997-1998), the 35th Infantry Division (1999- 2000), the Capital Defense Command (2004-2005) and chief director of the JCS’ operations bureau (2005- 2006).
Prior to assuming the position of the JCS chairman in March 2008, Kim was commanding general of the First Republic of Korea Army.
Kim is well-known for his fluent foreign language skills as he studied in Germany when he was a cadet as part of an exchange program with the Germany military.
Choi, 54, of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) is a bureaucrat-turned-lawmaker widely considered to be well versed in economic and financial policy.
The two-term lawmaker passed the high civil service examination in 1978 and worked at the now-defunct Economic Planning Board, the Bank of Korea and as a presidential aide in the 1990s.
Choi won a parliamentary seat in 2004 and was re-elected in 2008. He was head of the party’s policy coordination panel last year and is currently a member of the National Assembly’s finance and economy committee and the special committee on budget and accounts.
He was considered a favorite for the post due to his 20 years of service in government, his expertise in economic issues and his links to former GNP chairwoman Park Geun-hye, who is currently the front-runner for the presidential race in 2012.
Born in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Yim, 53, is a three-term lawmaker of the governing Grand National Party.
After passing the civil service examination in 1980, Yim served in the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the predecessor of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and Cheong Wa Dae between 1985 and 1999.
During the 2007 presidential campaign, he worked as chief secretary to then GNP candidate Lee Myung-bak.
Yim began his political career in 2000 when he was elected a lawmaker. He was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.
In 2001, he served as chief of the GNP’s policy committee on economic issues; spokesman between 2004 and 2005; and chief policymaker from June 2008 to last May.
Baik, 59, a professor at Seoul National University, is a well-known nutrition and science expert.
She graduated from Mississippi University for Women and went on to earn her doctorate from Harvard University in 1981.
She served as an assistant professor of Sookmyung Women’s University and a council member of the International Union of Nutritional Science and as head of the Korean Nutrition Society.
If confirmed, she would be the first female Cabinet minister since President Lee Myung-bak took office in February last year.
Born in Uljin, North Gyeongang Province, Joo, 49, is a two-term lawmaker in the governing Grand National Party (GNP).
After President Lee Myungbak won the presidential election in 2007, he served as spokesman of the power transition team.
After being discharged from military service, he worked at the Daegu District Court as a judge between 1988 and 1992.
He taught at Kyungbook National University in 2000.
Joo began his political career in 2004 when he was elected to the National Assembly on the GNP ticket. He worked as vice floor leader and deputy secretary of the party.