Im Ki-geun (57, photo), appointed as Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, is regarded as a "budget expert" who has held key posts since the days of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget.
Deputy Minister Im, a native of Haenam, South Jeolla, entered public service by passing the 36th civil service exam and served as director of budget policy, director of overall budget, fiscal planning deliberation officer, administrative and defense budget deliberation officer, director general for public policy, director general for policy coordination, economic budget deliberation officer, overall budget deliberation officer, fiscal management officer, and Commissioner of the Public Procurement Service.
Under the Lee Jae-myung administration, Im was appointed 2nd Vice Minister at the former Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), and when the Ministry of Planning and Budget was launched in Jan., he also served as acting Minister, filling the vacant ministerial post as the inaugural Vice Minister.
During COVID-19, Im was in charge of drawing up budgets for small business owners' loss compensation and damage support, and under the current administration oversaw securing budgets for consumption coupons to restore livelihoods and support for damages from high oil prices.
Deputy Minister Im is also credited with handling work based on a principle of balanced fiscal management. Early this year, in response to the Minister of the Interior and Safety's public request for central government budget support to operate the "local delinquent tax management units," Im made a principled remark such as, "Budgets required for local government affairs should be borne by local governments," drawing attention on social media (SNS).
Known for a gentle disposition, Im is also highly trusted within the organization. Since serving as a director at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), he has been selected three times by staff as a "boss to emulate," earning a place in the "hall of fame."
Deputy Minister Im will henceforth oversee overall state affairs, including inter-ministerial policy coordination, management of national tasks, regulatory innovation, and support for Cabinet meetings. Seong Ki-hong, senior presidential secretary for public communication, said, "Based on experience coordinating complex economic policies, as Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, he is expected to reasonably coordinate inter-ministerial interests and ensure stable management of current state issues," adding, "As an aide to the prime minister, he is the right person to support a leap to a top-tier industrial powerhouse with an overwhelming lead, growth for all the people, and the realization of an irreplaceable Republic of Korea."
▲Born 1968, Haenam, South Jeolla ▲Seoul National University, business administration ▲36th civil service exam ▲Indiana University (U.S.), graduate school, economics ▲Ministry of Economy and Finance, director of welfare budget ▲director of agriculture, forestry and fisheries budget ▲director of budget policy ▲director of overall budget ▲dispatched to the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts ▲fiscal planning deliberation officer ▲Innovative Growth Headquarters, team leader for leading project 2 ▲administrative and defense budget deliberation officer ▲director general for public policy ▲director general for policy coordination ▲economic budget deliberation officer ▲overall budget deliberation officer ▲fiscal management officer ▲Commissioner of the Public Procurement Service ▲2nd Vice Minister ▲Vice Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget