South Korea's President President Park Geun-hye, who has just entered her third year in office, nominated the spy chief as her new chief of staff Friday, her spokesman said.
Lee Byung-kee, who also worked as a career diplomat, was named to head the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the spokesman, Min Kyung-wook, said.
The 68-year-old Lee replaces Kim Ki-choon who resigned amid criticism over the leak of a sensitive presidential document.
President Park also nominated Lee Byung-ho, former 2nd vice director of the Agency for National Security Planning, predecessor of the NIS, to lead the state intelligence agency.
Earlier, the President carried out a Cabinet reshuffle affecting three ministers (unification handling inter-Korean affairs; land, infrastructure and transport; and oceans and fisheries), a day after ruling party floor leader Lee Wan-koo, nominee for prime minister, won National Assembly approval.