Kang Deuk-gu, a former senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea's supreme council, has been named head of the Democratic Research Institute, the party's think tank.
The party said on the 14th that "Party leader Kim Min-seok has designated former supreme council member Kang as head of the Democratic Research Institute under Article 57 of the party constitution."
The head of the institute is designated by the party leader, who serves as chairman of its board by virtue of office, and is formally appointed after approval by the institute's board of directors. The term runs two years.
Kang has served as chief of an innovation task force at the institute since Kim took over as party leader last month.
Kang clashed with former party leader Chung Chung-rai under the previous leadership. He has maintained ties with Kim over many years and is regarded as a core member of the faction loyal to former leader Lee Jae-myung.
Meanwhile, Lee Jae-young, who was appointed head of the institute during Chung's tenure, offered to resign on the 31st of last month, two weeks after Kim's leadership took office.
