South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday appointed Kim Jin-pyo of the ruling Democratic Party as chair of the new government’s state affairs planning committee and Lee Yong-sup, former interior minister as vice chair of the newly established job creation committee that will prepare the blueprint for his administration and fulfill his key election pledge of creating jobs.

The advisory committee for state affairs planning that will draw a five-year plan for the new administration’s direction and objective will also act as a presidential transition team for Moon. The new president entered office without transition period as the election was pulled seven months ahead of schedule due to the impeachment and removal of former President Park Geun-hye. The team formed with people nominated by the ruling party, government and presidential office can operate up to 70 days.

Kim, a four-term lawmaker, served as the deputy prime minister for economic affairs and deputy prime minister for education under the late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun who had served from 2003 to 2008.

Lee, former Democratic Party lawmaker served as chief of the National Tax Service, interior minister and transport minister under the Roh administration. He also headed the economic committee in Moon’s election camp.

The job creation committee is expected to be mainly led by Lee reporting to President Moon who is the committee’s ceremonial chair. The team that the new president has set up as his job number one to tackle the country’s youth unemployment problem will be formed with 15 ex-officio members and 15 civilian appointments. The ex-officio members include finance minister, trade minister, labor minister, and cabinet office minister.

By Kang Gye-man and Oh Soo-hyun

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]