PRESIDENT-ELECT NAMES TRANSITION LEADERS

UNCLAS SEOUL 003608 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KN KS PGOV PREL PINR SUBJECT: PRESIDENT-ELECT NAMES TRANSITION LEADERS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On December 26 President-elect Lee Myung-bak formally named Lee Kyung-sook chairperson of his transition team, making her the first Korean woman to serve in that capacity. Lee has named a total of 26 people, filling some key positions. In addition to the Chairperson, Lee Myung-bak appointed Representative Kim Hyung-o as Vice Chairman; Lee Dong-kwan as Transition Committee Spokesman; and Representative Lim Tae-hee as Chief of Staff. Other appointments will be made later this week after consultation with Lee Kyung-sook. Serving in one of these key positions is not necessarily an indicator of who will fill key posts in the administration, but it does denote closeness to and compatible policy views with the president-elect. End Summary. -------------- Organization -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Lee Myung-bak's transition team, at a projected 180 members, will be significantly smaller than President Roh Moo-hyun's transition team, which numbered 247. The transition organization will be comprised of one special committee on national competitiveness and seven separate subcommittees covering economic, foreign affairs, education, and administrative issues. Lee Myung-bak will also retain an advisory group that reports directly to him. -------------- Chairwoman Lee Kyung-sook -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Lee Kyung-sook (64) is in her fourth term as president of Sookmyung Women's University and first met candidate-elect Lee at church. She graduated from Sookmyung with a degree in political science and went on to get her master's degree from the University of Kansas and her doctorate from the University of South Carolina. She has served on numerous Boards of Directors, including that of Samsung Corporation in 1998. Lee is married to Choi Young-sang -- former vice president of Korea University -- and has one daughter and one son. Lee is credited with improving Sookmyung's academic standing and, more importantly, successfully endowing the once very poor university. -------------- Vice Chairman Kim Hyung-o -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Kim Hyung-o (60) is a fourth-term GNP lawmaker and was formerly Chairman of Lee Myung-bak's "National Vision" campaign. Kim has his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from Seoul National University and his doctorate from Kyungnam University. He has been a lawmaker since 1992 and was GNP floor leader from 2006-2007. -------------- Transition Committee Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Lee Dong-kwan (50) was a public relations aid for Lee Myung-bak's campaign and served as a National Election Commission public affairs officer. Lee, born in Seoul, attended Seoul National University where he majored in political science. Formerly Tokyo correspondent, Political Desk Chief, and editorial writer and Dong-A Newspaper, Lee was recognized during the campaign for his political sensitivity and agility in analyzing press reports and developing effective responses. Despite entering Lee's camp in August, 2007, Lee secured a top spot in the transition. Pundits speculated that Lee hoped to run for a National Assembly seat in April, but now that he has taken a key role in the transition, most expect him to instead take a prominent position in the Blue House. -------------- Chief of Staff Lim Tae-hee -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Lim Tae-hee (51) is from Gyeonggi Province and has a bachelor's degree in business management from Seoul National University. After a career as an economic specialist he turned to politics and has been a member of the National Assembly since 2000. He has served as GNP spokesman and Senior Deputy Floor Leader and was also head of the GNP think tank, Yoido Institute. Well regarded by lawmakers in the GNP and the UNDP, Lim remained neutral during the party primaries, but became one of Lee Myung-bak's confidants during the final months of the campaign. -------------- The Team -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The other confirmed transition team leaders are as follows: -- Administrative Chief: Baek Sung-woon, former Vice Gyeonggi Province Governor, -- Policy Ombudsman Center Chief: Lee Sang-mok, NGO activist, -- Planning & Coordination Subcommittee: Maeng Hyung-kyu, a third-term lawmaker is chief, supported by Lee Myung-bak confidant and Korea University professor Kwak Seung-joon, -- Political Subcommittee: Jin Soo-hee, NA member, -- Foreign Affairs, Unification & National Security Subcommittee: Park Jin, NA member who notably beat out close Lee Myung-bak advisor Hyun In-taek for the top spot, -- Judiciary & Administrative Subcommittee: Chung Dong-ki, former Vice Justice Minister, -- Economy (1) Subcommittee: Kang Man-soo, former Vice Finance Minister, -- Economy (2) Subcommittee: Choi Kyung-hwan, NA member, -- Social, Educational & Cultural Subcommittee: Lee Joo-ho, NA member. The president-elect also named members of his Special Committee on National Competitiveness: -- Co-chairs: Sagong Il, former Finance Minister and David Eldon, Dubai International Financial Centre Authority Chairman and the first foreigner to be appointed to a transition team, -- Co-Vice Chairs: Kim Hyung-o, NA member and Yoon Jin-sik, former Commerce, Industry & Energy Minister, -- To head up the task forces are Representative Park Jae-wan; Yoon Jin-sik; Gyeongbuk University professor Huh Jeung-soo; former North Jeolla Governor Kang Hyun-wook; and Seoul National University Professor Min Dong-pil. Still to be announced are members of the inauguration preparation committee and the president-elect's secretariat, though rumor has it some of those positions have already been decided. -------------- Somang Church Ties -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Lee Myung-bak's decision to appoint Lee Kyung-sook Chairperson of his transition team has raised speculation that Lee Myung-bak, who is praised for de-emphasizing school ties and political cronyism, might rely on church ties in political appointments. Indeed, a number of Lee's advisors also attend Somang Presbyterian Church, where Lee is an elder, including key transition figures Lee Kyung-sook, Kwak Seung-joon, and Kang Man-soo. Although Lee does seem to use church as another means of networking, the church boasts a congregation of 70,000, and is frequented by approximately 60 former and incumbent ministers, 10 university presidents, and 150 popular entertainers. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Lee has set out many ambitious goals for his tenure, among them reforming government, building a cross-country canal, improving ties with the U.S. and Japan and boosting the country's economy. His transition team will attempt to set out a blueprint that he can follow once he takes office. The day after Lee was inaugurated as Seoul Mayor in 2006, he went to Cheonggye Stream and kicked off the project to restore the paved-over downtown stream. Many expect "the bulldozer" to do the same as president. Still, it remains to be seen how much he can accomplish this spring with the National Assembly stacked against him and National Assembly elections scheduled for April. YUN