Tax Chief Lim Kwang-hyun Appointed New Presidential Chief of Staff: What Is Behind the Pick?

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung has chosen National Tax Service Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun as his new presidential chief of staff. It is a surprise pick who had not been mentioned among political speculations. His well-rounded experience across the ruling party, the government, and Cheong Wa Dae was reportedly the key reason behind his appointment.

Reporter Park Ye-rin reports.

[Reporter]

Incumbent National Tax Service Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun will serve as the second presidential chief of staff under the Lee Jae-myung administration.

The appointment comes 23 days after his predecessor, Kang Hoon-sik, offered his resignation on September 21 to take responsibility for the withdrawal of ministerial nominees Yong Hye-in and Kim Seung-won, as well as a decline in President Lee's approval ratings.

Lim, a career bureaucrat who previously served as deputy commissioner of the National Tax Service, served as a proportional representation lawmaker for the Democratic Party of Korea and has been serving as the current administration's first National Tax Service commissioner.

[Kang Hoon-sik / Presidential Chief of Staff: "Having broad experience in both the National Assembly and the government, he is the right person to better reflect the public's voice in state affairs and accelerate policy outcomes through cooperation among the ruling party, the government, and Cheong Wa Dae."]

Lim stated that his calling is to ensure that citizens can tangibly feel changes in their everyday lives.

[Lim Kwang-hyun / Incoming Presidential Chief of Staff: "Just as every day is desperate for our citizens, each day at Cheong Wa Dae must be just as desperate. I will devote all my energy to transforming the weary daily lives of the public."]

President Lee Jae-myung wrote on social media, "Welcome, Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun," adding, "I expect you to do as well as, or even better than, brother Hoon-sik. Let us successfully navigate this monumental turning point in modern history together."

At yesterday's Cabinet meeting as well, President Lee looked for Lim, who was absent due to a parliamentary audit, and publicly commended his achievement in collecting 400 billion won in delinquent high-value taxes.

[President Lee Jae-myung / Cabinet Meeting (Yesterday): "Is the National Tax Service here? Oh, at the parliamentary audit? I was going to commend them today.... In any case, the National Tax Service has been doing very well lately."]

The People Power Party questioned whether someone who spent his entire career in tax administration possesses the capability to untangle the comprehensive gridlock in state affairs, criticizing the appointment as a "patronage move" given that Lim's brother-in-law served as President Lee's defense attorney in legal cases.

Earlier, sitting lawmakers aligned with President Lee or veteran politicians from outside the legislature had been rumored as potential contenders for the second-term chief of staff.

Regarding the political arena's assessment that Lim's appointment was "unexpected," a Cheong Wa Dae official stated that high value was placed on administrative experience capable of producing tangible outcomes in the administration's second year.

(Video by Jeong Sang-bo and Ha Ryung | Video Editing by Wi Won-yang | Design by Seo Seung-hyun)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.