Roh names new construction, home affairs ministers

President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday appointed Lee Yong-sup, minister of government administration and home affairs, as new minister of construction and transportation, Roh's office said.

The president also named Park Myung-jae, former chief of the Central Officials Training Institute, as new minister of government administration and home affairs, said the office.

Lee will succeed Chu Byung-jik, who resigned last week to take responsibility for the failure of the government's real estate policy. Despite a string of strong anti-speculation policies, the nation's property market has spiraled out of control lately, resulting in a steep hike in apartment prices, particularly in the capital area.

"Lee has a strong expertise in economic and tax policymaking, as well as real estate issues, as he has long served at key posts at the Finance Ministry, the National Tax Service (NTS) and other key agencies," said Park Nam-choon, senior presidential secretary for personnel affairs.

The 55-year-old Lee, who obtained an doctorate in economics from Seoul's Sungkyungwan University, had previously served as a presidential secretary on government renovation and head of the NTS and the Korea Customs Service.

The presidential secretary praised Park, the 59-year-old home affairs minister nominee, as an expert in government reform. Over the past 30 years, he held key posts at the Ombudsman of Korea, the Home Affairs Ministry, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae and the government of North Gyeongsang Province.

Meanwhile, the president appointed Oh Jee-chul, former vice minister of culture and tourism, as his new special policy advisor.

Seoul, Nov. 23 (Yonhap News)