New Environment, Trade Chiefs Named

President Roh Moo-hyun nominated Lee Chi-beom (52), president of the Korea Environment and Resources Corporation, as Korea’s next environment minister yesterday. Lee was a former environment activist at the Korean Federation for the Environmental.

Kwon Oh-seung (56), a law professor at Seoul National University, was also named as Kang Chul-kyu’s successor to head the Fair Trade Commission (FTC).

“Upon the request from Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, the positions have been decided after going through a personnel recommendation meeting,” said Senior Presidential Secretary for Personnel Affairs Kim Wan-key at the briefing held that day. “We will request for a personnel hearing to the National Assembly regarding the environment minister as it is a cabinet member position.”

The position of FTC chairman is recommended by the prime minister but is not subjected to a personnel hearing of the National Assembly.

The new environment minister was a special aid on civic and social agenda to President Roh during the 2002 presidential elections, and the head of a group of public enterprise officials who contributed in the launch of the current administration. This is provoking controversy of personnel appointment in gratitude.

Kwon has started to lecture on the economic law in colleges since early 1980s, and is a three-year senior to Premier Lee from their time at Yongsan High School.

Secretary Kim said, “There will be no big changes in the policy basis even when Kwon starts his duties. The new governor for Bank of Korea and two new members to the Monetary Policy Committee will be named together sometime next week.”

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com