Outline of Key Appointments Including Economic Deputy Prime Minister and Government Reorganization Following Yoon's Prime Minister Nomination

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is nominating former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the first prime minister candidate of the new administration at the Presidential Transition Committee press conference held on the 3rd in Tongui-dong, Seoul, with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in attendance.

With Han Duck-soo nominated as the first Prime Minister, key appointments in the new government, including the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, are expected to gradually take shape.

On the morning of the 3rd, Han, the nominee for Prime Minister, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "We also discussed specific lists for ministerial appointments (in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration)," adding, "President-elect Yoon also expressed the view that 'each minister should be given responsibility and authority,' and that 'this is how we will entrust work to the cabinet.'" He continued, "The appointment of vice ministers in each ministry will proceed with ministers directly recommending candidates," and "the Presidential Office will support the vetting process for appointments such as vice ministers."

The day before, President-elect Yoon met with former Prime Minister Han at night to officially notify him of his nomination as Prime Minister and had a comprehensive discussion on overall state affairs. Specific individuals were named as ministerial candidates, outlining key appointments.

According to the current Presidential Transition Committee Act, the Prime Minister nominee holds the authority to decide on ministerial candidates. The process involves the nominee’s review along with reflecting opinions from the transition committee and others. The President-elect’s side indicated, "After the review process, there will be an announcement of ministerial candidates upon the Prime Minister nominee’s recommendation," suggesting there will be a gap between the Prime Minister nominee’s appointment and the announcement.

Former Prime Minister Han described the appointments for the economic and foreign/security lines as "highly predictable." For Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, Representative Choo Kyung-ho and former First Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok are considered candidates, while for foreign and security affairs, former Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Sung-han and Representatives Park Jin and Cho Tae-yong are mentioned. Han said, "It will be one of those individuals." Accordingly, ministerial candidates are expected to be announced soon.

The President-elect’s side has internally narrowed down candidates for about 15 ministries out of the 18 ministries under the current government, excluding 2 to 3 ministries, aiming to announce most ministerial candidates by April 10.