President Lee Jae-myung has nominated Lee Yong-cheol, the current head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, as the new justice minister and Ahn Deok-soo, head of the Seoul Regional Tax Office, as the new commissioner of the National Tax Service.

Choi In-ho, president of the Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG), has been tapped as the new senior presidential secretary for political affairs.

Presidential Chief of Staff Lim Gwang-hyeon held a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae today (November 6) to announce the nominations for justice minister and National Tax Service commissioner, as well as the appointment of the senior secretary for political affairs.

Lim introduced nominee Lee Yong-cheol as "a lawyer hailing from Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun) who has dedicated himself to protecting human rights and promoting democratic values," adding, "He previously led anti-corruption institutional reforms while serving as the second secretary for civil affairs and legal affairs secretary in the senior presidential office for civil affairs under the Roh Moo-hyun administration."

Lim continued, "As a legal professional equipped with diverse administrative experience, including structural reform, he is expected to swiftly settle the new criminal justice framework and realize fair legal administration where no one is marginalized or subjected to unfair grievances."

Nominee Lee Yong-cheol hails from Sunchang, North Jeolla Province, and graduated from Jeonju Shinheung High School and Yonsei University's Department of Law.

He completed the 21st class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and practiced law at Minbyun and the Saegil Law Firm.

Saegil Law Firm is also where President Lee worked prior to his election as mayor of Seongnam in 2010.

After Representative Jeong Sungho, who served as the first justice minister of the Lee Jae-myung administration, stepped down, President Lee nominated Representative Kim Seung-won in an August Cabinet reshuffle.

However, Representative Kim withdrew his nomination last month amid controversies, including allegations of illicit solicitation regarding approvals for new drug clinical trials.

Ahn Deok-soo, current head of the Seoul Regional Tax Office, was nominated as the commissioner of the National Tax Service, a position left vacant after Lim Gwang-hyeon was appointed presidential chief of staff last month.

Lim stated, "Nominee Ahn Deok-soo is a tax administration expert who has served across key positions, including director general of the Investigation Bureau, director general of the Tax Increase and Legal Affairs Bureau, and taxpayer protection officer at the National Tax Service." Lim added, "We expect him to realize tax justice by relentlessly tracking down malicious tax evasion and hidden assets so that citizens who faithfully pay their taxes do not face disadvantages."

Choi In-ho, president of HUG and a two-term lawmaker, was tapped as the senior presidential secretary for political affairs, succeeding Hong Ihk-pyo, who tendered his resignation.

During the briefing, Lim emphasized regarding appointee Choi In-ho, "As a former two-term National Assembly member from Busan who has served as a supreme council member and chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, he is a politician who has practiced the values of communication and unity."

Lim added, "We expect him to communicate with both the ruling and opposition parties as well as the public with a better posture for the integration and growth of our society, thereby backing politics that unite the people."

Lim explained, "This personnel reshuffle reflects our commitment to listening more attentively to the public's voices and communicating," adding, "The focus was placed on ensuring that the efficacy of policy changes is tangibly felt in the daily lives of citizens."

(Photo: Yonhap News)