President Lee Jae Myung appoints Lim Kwang-hyun, the head of South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS), as his new chief of staff, according to announcements from his office. Lim replaces outgoing chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, who departs from the post amid recent political pressure.
Kang previously offered to resign last month, citing responsibility for a series of failed Cabinet nominee confirmations. The outgoing chief of staff’s remarks describe Lim as having administrative experience and political insight, and his background includes prior roles within the NTS. Yonhap and Korea Times both report that the change follows the controversy surrounding two Cabinet nominees, which ultimately led to their withdrawal. Lim had also served as a lawmaker for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea through proportional representation in 2024, before leaving that seat to take the NTS chief role in 2025. Outlets agree the appointment is presented as part of continuity in running state affairs, with no additional policy changes highlighted in the reporting.
