Cheong Wa Dae to Handover Personnel Commission to President-Elect

Cheong Wa Dae announced yesterday that it would give President-elect Lee Myung-bak the authority to choose the successor of National Police Agency chief, Lee Taik-sun whose term will be expired on February 9.

“The service term of police chief is already set and the candidate for police chief should be approved at a hearing of the National Assembly. Therefore, it takes a long time to choose a police chief. After asking the opinion of the presidential transition committee, we’ll decide whether to forgo the selection of police chief or choose a proxy police chief,” said Cheon Ho-seon, President Roh Moo-hyun’s spokesman, at a briefing.

An official from Cheong Wa Dae said, “It is desirable for the next government to have the authority to select next police chief, who will work under the next government.”

Cheong Wa Dae will respect presidential transition committee’s opinion in choosing next chiefs of Korea Independent Commission Against Corruption, Seoul Olympic Sports Promotion Foundation, and Central Officials Training Institute whose chiefs are designated by the president. The chiefs of the three organizations either face expiration of term or expressed their will to resign.

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