Park taps ex-justice minister as chief aide

Chief of staff Kim Ki-choon; Senior political affairs secretary Park Joon-woo

President Park Geun-hye appointed former justice minister to assume the post of her chief of staff, Monday.

The naming of Kim Ki-choon, a three-term lawmaker, caught the nation by surprise in an apparent bid to make a new start after undergoing difficult half-year period since she took the office in February.

Kim served as prosecutor general and justice minister before entering into politics in 1996 and serving three terms as a legislator until 2008. He will replace Huh Tae-yeol, senior presidential press secretary Lee Jung-hyun announced.

Park also named career diplomat and former ambassador to the European Union Park Joon-woo, who is now chief of the foreign ministry's office of planning and coordination, as her new senior political affairs secretary, Lee said.

Also announced were three other new senior secretaries in charge of civil affairs, employment and welfare affairs, and future strategy.