CSC Chairman Cho Chang-hyun Reappointed

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Man-soo announced yesterday that President Roh Moo-hyun has decided to reappoint Cho Chang-hyun (70) as chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Cho’s first three-year term finishes at the end of this month.

Therefore, Cho, who was appointed as CSC chairman in May 2002 when former President Kim Dae-jung was in office, becomes the longest serving minister-level official.

Reportedly, the reappointment of Cho is a result of President Roh’s stress on the continuity of personnel management, which is very important especially now because facing the introduction of Senior Executive Service, which will be implemented in the beginning of next year, appointing a new figure in this position—which will be in charge of this service—might bring about unnecessary confusion.

Cho was born in Hwasun, Jeonnam, majored in law at Yonsei University, and received a Ph.D. from the department of administrative science of George Washington University. Cho served as a vice president of the Seoul campus of Hanyang University and as chairman of president’s advisory committee for government renovation.

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com