By Kang Hyung-kyung
President Lee Myung-bak named a senior broadcast journalist as his new presidential chief of staff in a reshuffle Sunday, amid worries that his relations with the ruling party will continue to be rough after the resignation of its leader.
Ha Kum-loul, a former chief executive of Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) Media Holdings after nearly 30 years experience as a TV reporter, will replace Yim Tae-hee.
In a press release, Cheong Wa Dae said Ha has the reputation of a journalist with a balanced view, and reasonable and good personality.
While serving as the CEO of SBS, it said, he demonstrated strong management skills.
President Lee named Ha to the key post in the hopes that the veteran journalist will play a role in smoothing relations with the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), as well as with the National Assembly, the presidential office said.
The reshuffle came days after Rep. Hong Joon-pyo of the GNP stepped down from the leadership post last Friday, amid mounting pressure from his opponents inside the party to take responsibility for the ruling party’s defeat in the Oct. 26 mayoral by-election and a recent cyber attack on the election watchdog’s website.
Rep. Park Geun-hye is reportedly to replace Hong to draw up a massive reform plan.
Analysts say relations between the presidential office and the ruling party will be worsened if the former GNP chairwoman assumes the leadership post.
Park, who was once Lee’s archrival in the GNP primaries to select a presidential candidate in 2007, is widely expected to distance the ruling party from the unpopular, lame duck President in an attempt to appeal to the hearts and minds of the public ahead of the parliamentary elections slated for April.
In the reshuffle, Lee also appointed Noh Yun-hong, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, as senior secretary for employment and social welfare.
Jang Dasaro, secretary for executive planning and management, was tapped as senior officer for administrative affairs. Lee Dong-woo, senior presidential officer for policy planning, will replace Jang.
President Lee also named Lee Mi-yon, director-general of international cooperation division of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth, as foreign press spokeswoman. Before joining the committee, she worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a trade expert.
In the reshuffle, Kim Oh-jin and Ze Seoung-wan were appointed as secretary for administrative affairs 1 and secretary for administrative affairs 2, respectively.