President Lee names National Tax Service head as new chief of staff

President Lee Jae Myung appointed National Tax Service chief Lim Kwang-hyun as his new chief of staff at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday. Lim succeeds Kang Hoon-sik, who offered to resign amid falling approval ratings and controversy over two Cabinet nominees who later withdrew. Lim said he would oversee Cheong Wa Dae’s overall work and focus on improving people’s livelihoods.

Lim Kwang-hyun served in various National Tax Service posts before winning a proportional-representation seat as a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker in 2024.

Lim gave up his parliamentary seat when he became National Tax Service chief in 2025.

Kang Hoon-sik said Lim had administrative experience and political acumen from working in the National Assembly and government.

Lim said his responsibilities included building on the administration’s accomplishments and creating tangible changes in people’s lives.

Published Oct 14, 2026 1:58 pm KST

Updated Oct 14, 2026 2:41 pm KST

National Tax Service Chief Lim Kwang-hyun speaks during a parliamentary audit session held at Government Complex Sejong, Tuesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday appointed the head of the National Tax Service (NTS) as his new chief of staff, his office said.

Outgoing chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik announced the appointment of Lim Kwang-hyun as his successor, weeks after he offered to resign amid Lee's falling approval ratings and controversy over the qualifications of two Cabinet nominees, who ultimately withdrew.

"(Lim) is a former economic official-turned-politician with both abundant administrative experience and political acumen," Kang told a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae.

"With experience across the National Assembly and government, he is the right person to more broadly incorporate the people's voices into the running of state affairs and speed up state achievements through cooperation between the ruling party, government and Cheong Wa Dae," he said.

Lim served in various posts at the NTS before being elected a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea by proportional representation in 2024. He gave up his parliamentary seat upon taking office as NTS chief in 2025.

Standing alongside Kang, Lim told reporters he believes it is his calling to build on the accomplishments of the administration and create tangible changes in the people's lives.

"As the top official responsible for assisting the president, I will take responsibility for the overall work of Cheong Wa Dae and give my all to improving people's livelihoods," he said.

周三，李在明总统任命国税厅厅长林光铉为青瓦台新任幕僚长。林光铉接替了因支持率下滑和两名内阁提名人选撤回提名引发争议而提出辞职的姜勋植。林光铉表示，他将负责青瓦台的各项工作，并致力于改善民生。

林光铉曾在韩国国税厅担任多个职务，之后于 2024 年当选为韩国民主党议员，获得比例代表制议席。

林冠英在2025年出任国家税务局局长时放弃了国会议员席位。

康勋植表示，林在国会和政府工作期间积累了行政经验和政治才能。

林表示，他的职责包括在政府已取得的成就基础上继续努力，并为人民的生活带来切实的变化。

发布于2026年10月14日下午1:58（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月14日下午2:41（韩国标准时间）

韩国国税厅厅长林光铉周二在世宗政府大楼举行的国会审计会议上发表讲话。（韩联社）

总统李在明周三任命国家税务厅厅长为他的新任幕僚长，总统办公室表示。

即将卸任的幕僚长姜勋植宣布任命林光铉为他的继任者。此前数周，由于李在镕的支持率下降以及两名内阁提名人的资格引发争议（最终这两名提名人退出），姜勋植曾提出辞职。

康在青瓦台举行的新闻发布会上表示：“（林）曾是经济官员，后来从政，拥有丰富的行政经验和政治才能。”

他说：“他拥有在国会和政府部门的工作经验，是能够更广泛地将人民的声音融入国家事务运作，并通过执政党、政府和青瓦台之间的合作加快国家成就的合适人选。”

林在2024年通过比例代表制当选为韩国执政党共同民主党的国会议员之前，曾在国家检察院担任过各种职务。2025年就任国家检察院院长后，他放弃了国会议员的席位。

林志强站在康国强旁边，告诉记者，他认为自己的使命是在政府取得的成就基础上，为人民的生活带来切实的变化。

他说：“作为协助总统的最高官员，我将对青瓦台的各项工作负责，并竭尽全力改善人民的生活。”