[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in has made political appointments by naming Professor Song Ki-chun of Jeonbuk National University Graduate School of Law as the Chairperson of the Military Death Accident Investigation Committee, a position left vacant due to the controversy over the 'Cheonan Ship re-investigation,' and appointing Ahn Sung-wook, the representative lawyer of Sungmoon Law Office, as the Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
Park Soo-hyun, Chief of Communication at the Blue House, stated in a briefing on the 10th, "President Moon has made appointments for one minister-level and four vice minister-level positions today." The appointment date is June 14.
Professor Song Ki-chun of Jeonbuk National University Graduate School of Law was appointed as the minister-level Chairperson of the Military Death Accident Investigation Committee. This position had been vacant for nearly two months after the previous Chairperson Lee In-ram resigned amid the Cheonan Ship re-investigation controversy.
Born in 1961, Professor Song graduated from Jeonju High School and Seoul National University’s Department of Law, earning both his master's and doctoral degrees in law from Seoul National University. He has served as president of the Korean Association of Public Law and the Democracy Law Research Association. Currently, he serves as a member of the Ministry of Education’s Private School Dispute Mediation Committee and co-representative of the Jeonbuk Peace and Human Rights Solidarity, among other roles.
Chief Park said, "The newly appointed Chairperson Song is a constitutional law professor recognized for his expertise in human rights, having served as president of the Democracy Law Research Association. He has shown active involvement in military and student human rights issues and will contribute to restoring trust in the military by conducting fair and objective investigations into military death accidents, successfully fulfilling the committee’s key mission of restoring the honor of the deceased."
At the vice minister level, the following were appointed: ▲ Ahn Sung-wook as Vice Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission ▲ Yoon Sung-wook as Second Vice Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination ▲ Lee Kyung-soo as Head of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT ▲ Choi Chang-won as President of the National Human Resources Development Institute.
Born in 1964, Vice Chairman Ahn Sung-wook graduated from Seongnam Seo High School and Korea University’s Department of Law. He passed the 33rd bar exam and has served as a prosecutor in the Central Investigation Department of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Anti-Corruption Special Investigation Headquarters, head of the Drug and Organized Crime Investigation Department at Busan District Prosecutors’ Office, and head of the Trial and Prosecution Department at Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office. He was serving as the representative lawyer at Sungmoon Law Office.
Chief Park said, "Vice Chairman Ahn is a former prosecutor with a deep understanding of anti-corruption issues and will steadily advance reform tasks to realize a fair society, including the establishment of the Public Officials’ Conflict of Interest Prevention Act."
This appointment draws particular attention as the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission recently took charge of a full investigation into real estate speculation by members of the National Assembly. When asked by reporters about the focus of this appointment, a Blue House official explained, "This appointment was made due to the occurrence of personnel factors," adding, "He will respond adequately to current issues upon assuming office."
Born in 1965 and a 35th administrative examination pass, Second Vice Minister Yoon Sung-wook graduated from Seoul Gyeonggi High School and Yonsei University’s Department of Business Administration, earning a master's degree in business administration from Yonsei University and a doctorate in economics from the University of Missouri, USA. He has held positions such as Director of the State Property Deliberation Division, Director of the Fiscal Management Bureau, and Director of the Fiscal Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, and was serving as Director of the Economic Coordination Office at the Office for Government Policy Coordination. Chief Park evaluated, "Vice Minister Yoon is an administrative expert currently serving as Director of the Economic Coordination Office at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, having previously led the Fiscal Innovation Bureau at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. His ability to respond to issues, problem-solving skills, and communication capabilities are excellent, and he will carry out policy coordination tasks related to COVID-19, the Korean New Deal, and carbon neutrality without disruption."
Born in 1956, Head Lee Kyung-soo graduated from Gyeongbuk High School and Seoul National University’s Department of Physics, earning a doctorate in physics from the University of Texas at Austin. He has served as the project leader of the KSTAR project, director of the National Fusion Research Institute, vice chairman of the ITER Council, and deputy head of international organizations. He is currently serving as chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea’s Special Committee on Science and Technology Innovation. Chief Park said, "Head Lee is a scientist who has worked in nuclear fusion research and international organizations for over 30 years. He possesses not only scientific expertise but also outstanding project management skills."
Born in 1962, President Choi Chang-won graduated from Gwanak High School in Seoul and Korea University’s Department of Business Administration, earning a master’s degree in policy studies from Saitama University in Japan and a doctorate in public administration from the University of Seoul. He passed the 36th administrative examination and has held positions such as Policy Officer for Performance Management, Social Welfare Policy Officer, and Director of the Economic Coordination Office at the Office for Government Policy Coordination. Chief Park stated, "President Choi is an administrative expert who began his public service career at the Ministry of Education and has comprehensively covered economic, social policies, and personnel affairs at the Office for Government Policy Coordination."
Yoon Chang-ryeol, Second Vice Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, will move to the position of First Vice Minister.
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