[Profile] Lim Kwanghyun, Blue House Chief of Staff, Economic Official Who Prided Himself on Being a "Master of Tax Investigations"

Tax Administration Expert Who Served as Investigation Bureau Chief Six Times
Made Headlines by Giving Up Assembly Seat for NTS Commissioner Post
Secured Nearly KRW 400 Billion from “Tax Delinquent King” Kwon Hyuk
Supercar Tax Probe Uncovered KRW

Lim Gwanghyeon, the new presidential chief of staff appointed by President Lee Jae-myung on October 14, is a career tax official who prides himself on being a "master of investigations."

Lim was born in 1969 in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province. After graduating from Gangseo High School and Yonsei University's Department of Economics, he passed the 38th Administrative Examination and entered public service in 1995. An expert in tax administration, he spent many years working at the National Tax Service and also served as an administrative official in the Office of the Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Policy under the Participatory Government.

National Tax Service Commissioner Lim Gwanghyeon, appointed as the new presidential chief of staff, listens to remarks by his predecessor, Chief of Staff Kang Hunsik, at a press conference at the Blue House on Oct. 14, 2026. Yonhap News.

At the National Tax Service, Lim held key posts including director of Investigation Bureau 1 at the Central Regional Tax Office, director of Investigation Bureau 4 at the Central Regional Tax Office, director of Investigation Bureau 2 at the Seoul Regional Tax Office, director of Investigation Bureau 4 at the Seoul Regional Tax Office, director of Investigation Bureau 1 at the Seoul Regional Tax Office, and director of the National Tax Service's Investigation Bureau. It is difficult to find precedent for a tax official serving as investigation bureau director as many as six times. Lim once appeared on a television program and said that his nickname was "master of investigations."

In the 2024 general election, he entered the 22nd National Assembly as a proportional representative for the Democratic Party of Korea. At the time, there was speculation that Lee Jae-myung, then the party leader, had personally recruited him. Since entering the Assembly, Lim has served on the Strategy and Finance Committee and the Steering Committee, and held positions including standing vice chair of the party's Policy Committee and deputy floor leader. When Lee was a presidential candidate, Lim took the lead in shaping tax policies, including reforms to earned income tax and inheritance tax.

In recognition of these achievements, Lim was tapped in July last year as the first commissioner of the National Tax Service under the Lee Jae-myung administration. Because the commissioner is not a member of the State Council, he had to give up his seat in the National Assembly, a decision that drew attention when Lim accepted the appointment. On April 28 this year, President Lee wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Thank you, Commissioner Lim Gwanghyeon, for giving up your seat in the National Assembly to take on the role of National Tax Service commissioner and for working so hard."

During his tenure as commissioner, Lim focused on collecting overdue taxes. Recently, he secured a commitment from Kwon Hyuk, chairman of Sido Group, who had evaded paying taxes for 15 years, to pay the full amount owed, nearly 400 billion won. Kwon agreed to make an initial payment of 100 billion won and offered five overseas-based vessels as collateral. The National Tax Service also launched tax investigations into 19 corporations over the private use of supercars. A total of 90 vehicles were uncovered, and the suspected tax evasion amounted to 300 billion won.

At a briefing at the Blue House's Chunchugwan press center on October 14, Lim said, "As the top official responsible for assisting the president, I will take responsibility for all aspects of the Blue House's work and devote all my energy to delivering results that improve people's lives." He added, "Given how urgent people's day-to-day lives are, every day at the Blue House must be just as urgent. I will do everything in my power to change the difficult day-to-day lives of the people."

Lim went on to say, "Over the past year, the People's Sovereignty Government has worked tirelessly alongside the people to restore normalcy to the Republic of Korea. We have achieved meaningful results together with the people and are walking together toward a great transformation." He added, "I believe my mission is to build on the achievements of the Lee Jae-myung administration and ensure that people experience real changes in their lives."

Profile of Lim Gwanghyeon, Presidential Chief of Staff

▲Born in 1969 in Hongseong, South Chungcheong Province ▲Graduated from Gangseo High School and Yonsei University's Department of Economics ▲Completed the International Tax Program at Harvard Law School ▲Passed the 38th Administrative Examination ▲Director of the National Tax Service's Investigation Bureau, commissioner of the Seoul Regional Tax Office, and deputy commissioner of the National Tax Service ▲Member of the 22nd National Assembly (proportional representative, Democratic Party of Korea) ▲Member of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, standing vice chair of the Policy Committee, and deputy floor leader ▲Commissioner of the National Tax Service

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