[Profile] Soonhak Moon Appointed as 1st Vice Minister of Industry...Expert in Industrial and Energy Policy

Soonhak Moon, who was appointed as the 1st Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy on June 10, is a career bureaucrat who has worked extensively in both industrial policy and the energy sector within the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Born in 1967, Vice Minister Moon graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in economics and entered public service by passing the 38th Higher Civil Service Examination. He has held key positions in the ministry, including Director of the Semiconductor and Display Division, Director of the Nuclear Power Industry Policy Division, Policy Advisor to the Minister, and Spokesperson.

Soonhak Moon, 1st Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy

During the Moon Jae-in administration, he served as head of the Energy Transition National Communication Task Force, overseeing energy transition policies. He later served as Director General for Nuclear Power Industry Policy, implementing the nuclear phase-out policy that was a key focus of the administration at the time.

In October 2020, Vice Minister Moon was investigated by prosecutors for the deletion of documents related to the Wolseong Unit 1 nuclear reactor. He was initially sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial, but was acquitted on appeal, and the Supreme Court confirmed his acquittal last year.

On this day, Kang Yoojung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, described Vice Minister Moon as an "energy expert with experience in oil, gas, and nuclear power." She added, "Given the significant impact of energy?such as RE100 (100% renewable energy) regulations?on industry, he is the right person to oversee the energy sector and lead the transition to the future."