Chief policy secretary for President Roh offers to resign

Kim Byong-joon, chief secretary to President Roh Moo-hyun for national policy, has recently offered to resign, citing personal reasons, a source at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.

"Secretary Kim expressed his intention to resign, citing reasons of his long service at Cheong Wa Dae, and President Roh agreed to accept his resignation," said the source.

Kim has worked for President Roh since 2002, when he joined Roh's presidential campaign as a policy advisor. He returned home Monday after visiting Morocco, Finland and Ireland as a presidential envoy over the past week.

He was a strong contender for the post of prime minister earlier this year.

According to the source, Kwon O-kyu, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, is being mentioned as the strongest candidate to succeed Kim.

The source added that Kim could later join Roh's Cabinet in the next reshuffle, considering that he has long been involved in the Roh government's key policymaking procedures. Seoul, May 29 (Yonhap News)