Kwon O-kyu Tapped to Head OECD Mission


By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun on Sunday appointed Moon Jae-in, a top confidant who led Roh’s defense team in the impeachment case, as senior presidential secretary for civil society, a newly created post.

The return of Moon, who quit his job as Roh’s top legal advisor in February, is the highlight of Sunday’s reshuffle aimed at strengthening the administration and increasing dialogue with the public.

Kim Young-joo, secretary for domestic policy planning, was also promoted to head his division, presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said in a news conference.

Top policy planner Kwon Oh-kyu, meanwhile, was tapped to head the nation’s mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, according to Chong Wa Dae sources.

Lee Won-duck, president of the state-run Korea Labor Institute, was appointed to head the newly established secretariat on social policy in the shakeup, conducted two days after the head of state was acquitted of the impeachment motion.

``The primary purpose of this reshuffle is to reorganize the presidential office and thus renew its communication with the National Assembly and political parties in accordance with the changed political landscape,’’ Yoon said. ``It is also aimed at strengthening the presidential office’s coordinating function with civil society and enhancing its role in assisting the president.’’

The presidential office’s reshuffle is the fifth since the Roh took office.

With Moon, his lifelong confidant, and other new faces soon to join Chong Wa Dae, Roh’s reform drive is set to pick up momentum.

However, the post of presidential advisor for foreign policy will remain vacant until Chong Wa Dae finds an appropriate candidate, Yoon said.

The two abolished positions are senior secretary for public participation and senior secretary for political affairs.

The president retained other major senior secretaries and policy advisors including National Security Adviser Kwon Chin-ho, the spokesman said.

With the shakeup, the presidential office will have a new organizational structure consisting of five senior secretaries, six advisors and 48 secretaries.

yoodh@koreatimes.co.kr