Park Hongkeun to Oversee Overall Planning
Jung Taeho and Lee Choonseok to Lead Economic Subcommittees
The National Policy Planning Committee, which will serve as the presidential transition committee for the Lee Jae-myung administration, held a plaque ceremony at the Changseong-dong annex of the Seoul Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on June 16, 2025, and officially began its activities, which will last for about 60 days.
Lee Hanju, chairman of the National Policy Planning Committee, stated, "We will swiftly establish the new administration's policy direction and tasks, while also listening to a wide range of opinions from the field to enhance responsiveness. In addition, we will maximize the effectiveness of implementation by preparing practical policy tools such as budget, legislation, and regulatory rationalization."
The National Policy Planning Committee is responsible for organizing the policy tasks to be pursued by the Lee Jae-myung administration and setting their priorities. It also discusses concrete reorganization plans for government bodies such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Environment, and the Prosecutors' Office. Chairman Lee explained, "For the government reorganization plan, we will form a separate task force to present a highly complete proposal."
While the committee has a similar function to the National Policy Planning Advisory Committee operated by the Moon Jae-in administration eight years ago, its scale has been significantly expanded. The number of planning committee members has increased from a maximum of 30 to 55. Including expert members and working-level staff recommended by political parties and the government, the total size is expected to far exceed 100. The word "advisory" was also removed from the name to emphasize the strengthening of its functions.
Lee Hanju, former head of the Democratic Research Institute and chairman of the government policy planning committee under Lee Jae-myung's administration, is pointing with his finger toward the upstairs meeting room as he enters the government building right after holding a plaque ceremony in front of the Changseong-dong annex of the Seoul Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the morning of the 16th. Photo by Moon Hyewon
The committee's leadership is headed by Lee Hanju, a key aide to President Lee Jae-myung and former head of the Democratic Research Institute. Chairman Lee has been one of President Lee's closest associates since the 1990s, when Lee was a lawyer in Seongnam. Kim Yongbeom, Chief Policy Officer at the Presidential Office; Jin Sungjoon, Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party; and Bang Kisun, Minister for Government Policy Coordination, will serve as vice chairmen, working closely with Chairman Lee.
Under the leadership, there are a total of seven subcommittees (Planning, Economy 1, Economy 2, Society 1, Society 2, Political Administration, and Foreign Affairs and Security). Many incumbent Democratic Party lawmakers will join as heads and members of these subcommittees. The Planning Subcommittee, which oversees overall policy planning, will be headed by lawmaker Park Hongkeun. Park previously served as floor leader when President Lee was the leader of the Democratic Party. The head of the Planning Subcommittee coordinates the work of each subcommittee and oversees the entire National Policy Planning Committee. The Planning Subcommittee will also handle constitutional amendments and government reorganization plans, in addition to policy tasks.
Democratic Party lawmakers Cho Seungrae, Heo Young, and Ahn Dogeol will participate in the Planning Subcommittee, and Heo Euna, former leader of the Reform New Party, has also joined. It is known that Heo was contacted about joining the committee on the night of June 15. Other participants include Kim Hoki, former professor of sociology at Yonsei University; Lee Sangkyung, professor at Seoul National University School of Law; Ahn Byungjin, professor at Kyung Hee University Institute of Future Civilization; and Lee Taeho, executive director of People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.
The Economy 1 Subcommittee will be led by lawmaker Jung Taeho, the ruling party's secretary on the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee. Democratic Party lawmaker Oh Gihyeong, a member of the Planning and Finance Committee, will also participate. Oh has led efforts to amend the Commercial Act to strengthen the rights of individual shareholders as head of the "Korea Stock Market Vitalization Task Force." Former lawmaker Hong Sungguk, known as the Democratic Party's leading economic expert, will also join the Economy 1 Subcommittee. Hong, a former securities analyst, was appointed as a supreme council member by President Lee when he was party leader and has frequently commented on macroeconomic issues such as the domestic stock market and exchange rates. Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byungwook, Kim Eunkyung, professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Law School, and Lee Jongwook, professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, will also serve as subcommittee members.
The Economy 2 Subcommittee will be headed by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Choonseok. Subcommittee members include lawmakers Lee Junghun (chairman of the Special Committee on Information and Communications) and Hwang Jeonga (chairwoman of the Special Committee on Science and Technology). They are expected to directly plan key tasks related to the major AI transformation (AX) of the Korean economy, including artificial intelligence and science and technology. Lawmakers Yoon Junbyung and Wi Seonggon will also join.
The Society 1 Subcommittee, which will handle major health and welfare issues such as pension reform and legislative conflicts, as well as President Lee's "Basic Society" pledge, will be led by attorney Lee Chanjin of Jeil United Law Office.
The Society 2 Subcommittee will be led by Hong Changnam, vice president of Pusan National University. Members of the Society 2 Subcommittee include Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Hyun, Lim Ohkyung, and Cha Jiho; former Justice Party lawmaker Choo Hyesun; Kim Kyungho, professor at Jeju National University Department of Media and Public Relations; and Park Seona, professor at Hanyang University Law School.
The Political Administration Subcommittee will be headed by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Haesik, who served as chief of staff for President Lee during the presidential election. Lawmaker Park Kyuntaek, who defended the Daejang-dong case, will also serve as a subcommittee member.
The Foreign Affairs and Security Subcommittee will be led by Hong Hyun-ik, former president of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, who assisted in designing President Lee's foreign affairs and security pledges. Democratic Party lawmakers Park Sunwon and Lee Yongseon will join as subcommittee members, along with Yoon Soonkoo, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Park Jongseung, former director of the Agency for Defense Development.
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