[Anchor]

National Tax Service Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun has been selected as the new presidential chief of staff. While Commissioner Lim had not been among the candidates mentioned in political circles, his extensive experience across the ruling party, the government, and Cheong Wa Dae is reported to be the background behind his appointment.

Reporter Park Yerim reports.

[Reporter]

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

The appointment comes 23 days after his predecessor, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, offered to resign 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 Jae-myung's approval ratings.

A former bureaucrat who previously served as deputy commissioner of the National Tax Service, the new Chief of Staff Lim also served as a proportional representative lawmaker for the Democratic Party and has been working as the first commissioner of the National Tax Service under the current administration.

[Kang Hoon-sik / Presidential Chief of Staff: "Having experienced both the National Assembly and the government, he is the right person to reflect the voices of the people more strongly in state affairs and accelerate policy achievements through cooperation among the ruling party, government, and Cheong Wa Dae."]

Chief of Staff Lim expressed his thoughts, stating that his calling is to ensure that the public can feel real changes in their lives.

[Lim Kwang-hyun / New Presidential Chief of Staff: "Just as each day is desperate for the public, every single day at Cheong Wa Dae must be treated with desperation as well. I will dedicate all my efforts to transforming the exhausting daily lives of the people."]

President Lee Jae-myung posted on social media, saying, "I welcome Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun," adding, "I expect him to do just as well as, or even better than, older brother Hoon-sik. Let us successfully navigate this monumental watershed moment in modern history together."

At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (October 13), President Lee looked for Lim, who was absent due to a parliamentary audit, and publicly praised his performance in recovering 400 billion won in delinquent taxes.

[President Lee Jae-myung (Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, October 13): "Is the National Tax Service here? Ah, you're at the parliamentary audit? I was planning to present a commendation today.... Regardless, the National Tax Service has been doing very well lately."]

From the People Power Party, criticism emerged questioning whether someone who spent his entire career in the tax sector possesses the capability to untangle the overall complexities of state affairs, with some calling it a "favor-repayment appointment" given that Lim's brother-in-law had served as legal counsel in cases related to President Lee.

Previously in political circles, sitting lawmakers aligned with the pro-Lee faction or senior politicians outside the National Assembly had been rumored as candidates for the second-term chief of staff.

Addressing political assessments that Lim's appointment was "unexpected," an official from Cheong Wa Dae conveyed that great importance was placed on administrative experience capable of producing tangible results in the administration's second year.

Video by Jung Sang-bo, Ha Ryung | Video Editing by Wi Won-yang | Graphics by Seo Seung-hyun