Kim Chang-gon, former Vice Minister of Information and Communication, was named the new chief of the Korea Digital Cable Laboratories (KLabs) on Friday.

The KLabs’ board of directors announced Friday that it has chosen Kim to replace Suh Jong-ryeol as the organization’s chief executive.

KLabs is a research institution launched in 2004 for the advancement of the cable television and telecommunications industries. 

Kim, who holds a doctoratal degree in electronic engineering from Hanyang University, joined the civil service as an engineer in 1976. Since then he held a number of high-level posts including that of the president of the Korea Internet Security Agency. After serving as the vice minister of Information and Communication for one year from January 2004, Kim headed the National Information Society Agency.

The Ministry of Information and Communication was dismantled in 2008, with its functions being divided among different ministries.

Kim is currently a chair professor at Hanyang University’s department of Electronic Engineering.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)