Labor minister nominee hailed for financial expertise

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Yim Tae-hee, nominated on Thursday to serve as South Korea's new labor minister, is well known for his financial expertise having long served in the government's economy-related ministries.

The 52-year-old Yim has been elected to parliament three times since 2000 and is
now serving as chief policymaker of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP).
Born in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province in 1946, Yim majored in business
administration at Seoul National University and passed the state civil service
examination in 1980, starting his career as a public servant.
He spent most of his career at the finance ministry and customs service agency,
where he accumulated expertise in taxation and finance.
Yim is credited with strong leadership, a trait analysts say will help him solve
mountains of entangled domestic labor issues, including a dispute over how to
handle the nation's sizable non-regular work force.
Starting his political career after a win in the 2000 general elections, Yim has
worked as chief secretary to the GNP chairperson, vice spokesman of the GNP and
deputy floor leader, winning acclaim for his rational and moderate approach to
political issues.
Yim also served as an economic advisor to then GNP presidential hopeful Lee
Hoi-chang in 2002.
During the 2007 presidential election, Yim served as chief secretary to then GNP
candidate Lee Myung-bak.
brk@yna.co.kr
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