Lee Jaemyung Administration's Policy Planning Committee to Launch Next Week as Final Appointments Near Completion

Plaque Unveiling Ceremony at Government Complex Seoul on the 16th
Led by Former Democratic Research Institute Director Hanju Lee
Ruling Party Lawmakers Including Park Hongkeun Join the Committee

The National Policy Planning Committee, which will serve in place of the presidential transition committee for the Lee Jaemyung administration, will hold its official inauguration ceremony at the Government Complex Seoul in Gwanghwamun on June 16.

On the 12th of last month, at the 21st presidential election Democratic Party of Korea's top 10 policy pledges press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Hanju Lee (second from the left) former director of the Democratic Research Institute, serving as the head of the policy division of the Democratic Party's general election campaign headquarters, is speaking. Photo by Yonhap News

The Policy Planning Committee is tasked with organizing and prioritizing the policy agenda to be pursued by the Lee Jaemyung administration. Hanju Lee, a key aide to President Lee and former director of the Democratic Research Institute, will lead the committee as chairperson. Yongbum Kim, Chief of Policy at the Presidential Secretariat; Sungjun Jin, Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea's Policy Committee; and Kiseon Bang, Chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, will serve as vice chairs, working closely with Chairperson Lee. Chairperson Lee previously served as head of the Economic Division 1 of the Policy Planning Advisory Committee under the Moon Jaein administration.

It is reported that the final selection of experts and other members for each of the committee's seven subcommittees is underway. Lawmaker Park Hongkeun has reportedly been nominated as head of the Planning Subcommittee. The head of the Planning Subcommittee coordinates the work of each division and oversees the entire Policy Planning Committee. Other participants in the Planning Subcommittee are said to include Democratic Party lawmakers Chun Junho, Lee Jeongmoon, and Ahn Dogeol; Ho-ki Kim, former professor of sociology at Yonsei University; Sangkyung Lee, professor at the University of Seoul Law School; Byungjin Ahn, professor at Kyung Hee University's Institute for Future Civilization; and Taeho Lee, executive director of People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.

Lawmaker Jung Taeho has reportedly been nominated as head of the Economic Division 1. Democratic Party lawmaker Oh Gihyung, a member of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee, is also reported to be included as a member of Economic Division 1. As the head of the "Korea Stock Market Vitalization Task Force," Oh has been at the forefront of pushing for amendments to the Commercial Act to strengthen the rights of individual shareholders.

Hong Seongguk, a former lawmaker known as the Democratic Party's "economic expert," is also said to be included in Economic Division 1. A former securities analyst, Hong frequently commented on macroeconomic issues such as the domestic stock market and exchange rates when President Lee was the party leader. Some analysts suggest that, working together with Oh?who has actively promoted amendments to the Commercial Act?they may accelerate the normalization of the capital market.

In addition, Byungki Joo, professor of economics at Seoul National University; Eun-kyung Kim, former vice governor of the Financial Supervisory Service; and Jonguk Lee, director of StartRun and adjunct professor at Kookmin University, are also said to be included as subcommittee members.

Lawmaker Lee Choonseok of the Democratic Party has reportedly been nominated as head of Economic Division 2. Subcommittee members for Economic Division 2 are said to include lawmaker Kim Hyun (ruling party secretary of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee), lawmaker Lee Jeongheon (Chair of the Special Committee on Information and Communications), and lawmaker Hwang Jeonga (Chair of the Special Committee on Science and Technology). They are expected to directly plan major tasks related to the AI transition (AX) and science and technology across the Korean economy.

Attorney Lee Chanjin of Jeil Joint Law Office has reportedly been nominated as head of Social Division 1. Attorney Lee served as a defense lawyer in President Lee's "Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance allegations" trial. Lawmaker Choi Minhee, who currently chairs the 21st National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, has reportedly been nominated as head of Social Division 2. Lawmaker Choi leads broadcasting and communications policy. Lawmakers Lim Ohkyung, Democratic Party secretary of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, and Cho Seungrae, Democratic Party secretary of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, are also said to be joining Social Division 2.

Lawmaker Lee Haesik, who served as chief of staff for President Lee during the recent presidential election, is reportedly set to head the Political and Administrative Division. Lawmaker Park Kyuntaek, who defended President Lee in the Daejang-dong case, is also said to be included as a subcommittee member. For the Foreign Affairs and Security Division, Hyun-ik Hong, former president of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, who assisted in designing President Lee's foreign and security policy pledges, has reportedly been nominated as head.