[Profile] Lee Gwansub, New Chief Policy Planning Officer... Equipped with 'National Planning Ability and Political Sensibility'

Kwanseop Lee, Chief Policy Planning Officer, Presidential Office / Photo by Presidential Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Lee Gwan-seop, the full-time vice chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (61), who was appointed on the 21st as the newly established Senior Secretary for Policy Planning in the presidential office of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, is regarded as a figure equipped with planning capabilities for overall government policies and political sensibility.

Lee, a native of Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, graduated from Daegu Gyeongbuk High School and Seoul National University with a degree in Business Administration, and earned a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University in the United States.

He passed the 27th Administrative Examination and served as Director General of the Energy Resources Office and Director General of the Industrial Policy Office at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, retiring from public service in 2016 after serving as the First Vice Minister.

He also worked as Director of the Management Support Group at the Planning and Budget Office, Senior Administrative Officer at the Presidential Office, and Senior Specialist at the People Power Party.

After leaving public office, he moved to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, a public institution under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, where he served as president from 2016 to 2018.

At the time of his resignation in January 2018, he took a stance opposing the public deliberation process for the permanent suspension of Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant Units 5 and 6. Afterwards, he served as an outside director at E-Mart and SKC, and has been serving as the full-time vice chairman of the Korea International Trade Association since February last year.

The presidential office explained that the reason for his appointment was that he is the optimal candidate who can facilitate smoother communication and understanding among the public, government ministries, and the presidential office in terms of livelihood and policy agendas, thereby leading the realization of the core national tasks of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

Kim Dae-gi, Chief Secretary to the President, also announced Lee’s appointment, stating, "He has worked extensively in the presidential office and as a senior specialist at the party, and is evaluated as a person with not only planning capabilities for overall state affairs but also political sensibility," adding, "He is the right person to lead the realization of the core national tasks of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration by facilitating smoother communication and understanding among ministries, the presidential office, and the public in future state governance."

▲ Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk ▲ Daegu Gyeongbuk High School ▲ Seoul National University, Business Administration ▲ Harvard University, Master of Public Administration ▲ 27th Administrative Examination ▲ Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Director General of Energy Resources Office ▲ Director General of Industrial Policy Office ▲ Vice Minister ▲ President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power ▲ Full-time Vice Chairman of Korea International Trade Association

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