The Last Prime Minister of the Moon Jae-in Administration is Kim Boo-kyum... Noh Hyung-wook Appointed as Successor to Byun Chang-heum (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Boo-kyum, former Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, has been appointed as the last Prime Minister of the Moon Jae-in administration. Former Chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Noh Hyung-wook was appointed as the successor to Minister Byeon Chang-heum of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Moon Seung-wook, the second vice minister of the Prime Minister's Office, was appointed as Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Additionally, Ahn Kyung-duk, Standing Member of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, was appointed as Minister of Employment and Labor; Im Hye-sook, Chairperson of the National Research Council of Science & Technology, was appointed as Minister of Science and ICT; and Park Jun-young, Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, was appointed as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

The Blue House announced a mid-level reshuffle on the 16th based on these details.

Born in 1958, candidate Kim graduated from Daegu Gyeongbuk High School, earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Seoul National University, and a master's degree in Public Administration from Yonsei University. He is a four-term National Assembly member, former Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and currently serves as the Chairperson of the Democratic Party's Special Committee on National Integration.

The Blue House evaluates him as a "unifying politician" who will demonstrate leadership to overcome regionalism. Presidential Chief of Staff Yoo Young-min said, "Candidate Kim is a unifying politician with four terms as a National Assembly member who has demonstrated fairness and win-win leadership in political and social fields. He has devoted himself to overcoming regionalism, social reform, and national unity. As Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, he worked to ensure public safety from various disasters and accidents, earning broad support and trust from the public," explaining the reason for his appointment.

Yoo added, "He possesses extensive experience and insight in overall state affairs, balanced political sensibility, communication skills, and a gentle and rational personality that values dialogue and compromise. He is the right person to address the urgent demands of the people shown in the last election, such as overcoming COVID-19, eradicating real estate corruption, economic recovery, and restoring livelihoods."

Im, appointed as Minister of Science and ICT, was born in 1963. She graduated from Seoul Songgok Girls' High School, earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Control and Instrumentation Engineering from Seoul National University, and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She has worked at Samsung Hewlett-Packard, Bell Labs in the U.S., and Cisco Systems in the U.S., and has served as president of the Korean Institute of Electronics Engineers and dean of the College of Engineering at Ewha Womans University.

Yoo said, "She is an engineer with outstanding research achievements in the field of ultra-high-speed communication networks. As the first female president of the Korean Institute of Electronics Engineers and chairperson of the National Research Council of Science & Technology, she has pioneered new paths as a female engineer. Based on her understanding of science and technology policy, she will accelerate initiatives such as carbon neutrality and the digital new deal."

Moon, appointed as the new Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, was born in 1965. He graduated from Seoul Seongdong High School, earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from Yonsei University, a master's degree in Public Administration from Seoul National University, and a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. He passed the 33rd Administrative Examination and has served as Deputy Commissioner of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Director-General of Industrial Innovation and Growth at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Deputy Governor for Economy of Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

Yoo said, "He is an expert in the real economy who has held various positions in trade and energy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. We expect him to lead the global economy by responding to major industrial and trade issues such as industrial structural changes in the COVID-19 era, trade order reorganization, carbon neutrality, and energy transition."

No Hyung-wook, Minister for Government Policy Coordination, is briefing on the 'Measures to Eradicate Digital Sex Crimes' at the Joint Briefing Room of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Candidate Noh for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport was born in 1962. He graduated from Gwangju Jeil High School, earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Diplomacy from Yonsei University, and a master's degree in International Economics from Sciences Po in Paris, France. He passed the 30th Administrative Examination and has served as Director of Public Innovation Planning, Social Budget Review Officer, Administrative Budget Review Officer, and Fiscal Management Officer at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

Yoo said, "Having served as Chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, he has a high level of understanding of not only the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport but also overall state affairs. With innovative and bold policy coordination and execution capabilities, he has closely addressed various national issues. Recently, he has embodied the public and contemporary spirit of eradicating real estate corruption and will achieve a radical transformation of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and LH, swiftly resolving urgent tasks such as balanced national land development."

Candidate Ahn, for Minister of Employment and Labor, was born in 1963. He graduated from Chuncheon High School in Gangwon Province and earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Diplomacy from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He passed the 33rd Administrative Examination and has served as Director of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office, Director-General of Labor Policy, and Director-General of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Candidate Park, for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, was born in 1967. He graduated from Su-seong High School in Gyeonggi Province and earned a bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Korea University. He passed the 35th Administrative Examination and has served as Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Minister-Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the UK, spokesperson for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Director-General of Planning and Coordination.

Yoo said, "He has led significant policy formulation across marine, fisheries, and logistics sectors. Regarding the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, he will strengthen safety management of seafood and is expected to carry out national tasks in the shipping industry reconstruction and marine and fisheries sectors."

Yoo stated, "This reshuffle appointed experts who have been implementing policies on the front lines as ministers of each ministry. It was carried out to prepare momentum for completing key government tasks and to achieve tangible results that the public can feel."

He added, "We humbly accept the demands of the people for the government shown in the last election and intend to use this as an opportunity to renew our resolve and successfully complete government tasks."