President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday named scientist and former minister Kim Doh-yeon as chief of the National Science and Technology Council.

Under a revised bill passed late last year, the presidential advisory panel is to become a standing organization in charge of distributing the state budget for research and development, starting in April.

The upgrade of the council to the nation’s top decision-maker in planning, coordinating science and technology policies comes three years after the Ministry of Science and Technology was shut down and merged into the Ministry of Education in early 2008 as part of Lee’s “small government” policy.

Kim, former dean of Seoul National University’s college of science and engineering, served as the Lee administration’s first minister of education, science and technology until August 2008 and as president of the University of Ulsan since. Kim also heads the National Academy of Engineering of Korea.

“Considering Kim’s expertise, leadership and good reputation at home and abroad, he is expected to allow the new NSTC distribute resources more efficiently for the development of science and technology,” Lee’s senior secretary for public affairs Hong Sang-pyo said in a briefing.

Also on Wednesday, Lee nominated retired army general and former senior military intelligence official Park Seung-chun as minister of patriots and veterans affairs, and former Chung-Ang University president Park Bum-hoon as top presidential aide for education and culture.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)