President Lee Myung-bak on Monday (Jan. 19) reshuffled his Cabinet. He appointed Yoon Jeung-hyun, former chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission, as new Minister of Strategy and Finance and Hyun In-taek, a professor of political science and international relations at Korea University, Minister of Unification.

In the reshuffle, President Lee also named Kwon Tae-sin, vice secretary general of the Prime Minister''s Office, Minister of the Prime Minister''s Office and Chin Dong-soo, president of the Export-Import Bank of Korea, chairman of the Financial Services Commission.

The President also named a total of 15 new vice minister-level officials at various government agencies, including the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, the Ministry of Gender Equality, and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. He appointed Yoon Jin-sik, chairman of the Korea Investment Holdings, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs.

The latest Cabinet reshuffle focused on revamping the government''s economic team with a view to reviving the economy, the most urgent national task under the current circumstances, the presidential spokesperson said.

Yoon Jeung-hyun, the man tapped to be Minister of Strategy and Finance, is an expert with profound insight on financial affairs. He is deemed to be suitable for the post in the government''s efforts to win market players'' trust.

Hyun In-taek, the appointee for the portfolio of unification, is an expert who is well versed in North Korean affairs. He took part in formulating President Lee''s "Denuclearization-Opening 3000" plan, one of the President''s campaign promises.

Kwon Tae-sin, the president''s pick for Minister of the Prime Minister''s Office, is a former vice minister of finance and economy and ambassador to the OECD. He is expected to strengthen the policy coordination function at the Prime Minister''s Office.

Chin Dong-soo, the man selected as chairman of the Financial Services Commission, is an experienced financial expert who has worked at Cheong Wa Dae, the Financial Supervisory Commission, and the World Bank, the spokesperson said.