Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha Abruptly Replaced... Jeong Eui-yong Appointed Successor (Comprehensive)

President Moon reshuffles 3 ministries... Hwang Hee appointed Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kwon Chil-seung appointed Minister of SMEs and Startups

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in made a sudden replacement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the 20th, the day of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden of the United States.

Jeong Eui-yong, former National Security Office chief, was appointed as the successor to Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha. President Moon also appointed Hwang Hee, a member of the Democratic Party, as Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Kwon Chil-seung, a Democratic Party member, as Minister of SMEs and Startups, carrying out a moderate reshuffle of three ministries.

Nominee Jeong served as the National Security Office chief at the Blue House under the Moon Jae-in administration for three years, during which he negotiated and coordinated issues between South Korea and the United States. In particular, he led the implementation of the Korean Peninsula peace process, including inter-Korean summits and North Korea-U.S. negotiations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Nominee Hwang, who served as the Democratic Party’s publicity chairman, was highly evaluated for his planning skills, work execution ability, and legislative experience. Jeong Man-ho, senior secretary for public communication at the Blue House, said, "We expect overcoming the crisis in culture, arts, sports, and tourism industries, protecting sports human rights, innovating the sports sector, and strengthening communication with the public."

Earlier that morning, Kwon, who was appointed as the successor to Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun, who resigned to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election, is a two-term lawmaker who served as the Democratic Party’s special committee chairman for small businesses.

Senior Secretary Jeong evaluated, "He has a deep understanding of major policies and issues, contributed to customized support for small and venture businesses and small merchants, and promoted win-win cooperation between large and small businesses." With President Moon’s personnel changes, the reshuffle that has continued since December last year is entering its final stage.

Meanwhile, regarding the multi-homeownership issue, which has emerged as a major variable in Moon Jae-in administration personnel, nominees Jeong and Kwon are known to own one house each, while nominee Hwang is known to be without a house.