Mr Kang Man Soo, who came in for severe media criticism for his handling of the economic crisis, will be replaced at finance by Mr Yoon Jeung Hyun (left). -- PHOTO: AP
SEOUL - SOUTH Korea's president on Monday sacked his finance minister and top policymaker on North Korea amid a worsening economic downturn and frosty ties with the North.
Mr Kang Man Soo, who came in for severe media criticism for his handling of the economic crisis, will be replaced at finance by Mr Yoon Jeung Hyun, President Lee Myung Bak's spokesman said.
Unification Minister Kim Ha Joong will be succeeded by Mr Hyun In Taek, an academic who helped draft Mr Lee's policy towards Pyongyang.
Also replaced were two ministerial-level officials - the chief of staff for the prime minister and the head of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) watchdog.
Mr Kwon Tae Shin, a career government administrator, will become the prime minister's chief of staff.
Mr Chin Dong Soo, president of the state-run Export-Import Bank of Korea, is to be the new head of the FSC. -- AFP
