President Lee Appoints Five Vice Ministers for Unification, Interior, Agriculture, and Oceans... "Focus on Professional Officials"

Kim Namjoong Appointed Vice Minister of Unification, Kim Minjae as Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety
Kang Hyungseok Named Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Kim Sungbeom as Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries
Kim Kwangyong Appointed Head of the National Disaster and Safety Headquarters

President Lee Jaemyung carried out additional vice-ministerial appointments on June 20. Kim Namjoong, former Standing Representative for Inter-Korean Talks at the Ministry of Unification, was appointed Vice Minister of Unification. Kim Minjae, Assistant Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, was appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Kang Hyungseok, Director General for Agricultural Innovation Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, was appointed Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Kim Sungbeom, Director General for Maritime Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, was appointed Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. Kim Kwangyong, Spokesperson of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, was appointed Head of the National Disaster and Safety Headquarters.

Yonhap News Agency

Vice Minister Kim Namjoong is known as the "history of the Ministry of Unification," having served for over 30 years at the ministry. In a written briefing, Presidential Office Spokesperson Kang Yujeong stated, "During his tenure at the Ministry of Unification, he was selected as the 'senior official most admired by staff,' earning deep trust within the organization." She added, "He was highly regarded for his extensive expertise, accumulated through coordinating inter-Korean exchanges, cooperation, and summits, bridging both field operations and policy. With his long experience as a ministry official and a strong sense of duty, he is expected to dedicate himself to building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."

Vice Minister Kim Minjae is recognized as a seasoned policy expert, having served as Director General for Local Administration Policy, Director General for Planning and Coordination, and Assistant Vice Minister at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. He also served as Director General for Planning and Coordination in Gangwon Province, earning high marks for his understanding of local administration. Spokesperson Kang stated, "Based on his diverse experience, he has stably led the regional balanced development agenda. He is evaluated as the right person to accelerate the Lee Jaemyung administration's 'Five Regions, Three Special Zones' policy for balanced national development and local autonomy, in response to the crisis of regional extinction."

Vice Minister Kang Hyungseok has held various positions, including Director General for Rural Policy and Director General for Agricultural Innovation Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, demonstrating both a deep understanding of and expertise in the agricultural sector. The Presidential Office explained that he is expected to play a key role in the future transformation of the agricultural industry, including the expansion of smart data agriculture and the export of K-Food. He is considered the right person to fulfill the president's pledge of building "sustainable rural and fishing communities that attract people."

Vice Minister Kim Sungbeom has built expertise and crisis management capabilities across the entire maritime and fisheries sector, having served as Director General for Maritime Policy, Director General for Maritime Policy Planning, and Director General for Ports at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Notably, he served as Chair of the Supplementary Fund of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds for 11 years, earning high praise for his international cooperation and communication skills. Spokesperson Kang stated, "With his diverse practical experience and policy capabilities, he is the optimal talent to implement President Lee Jaemyung's pledges, including relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan and fostering new maritime industries."

Kim Kwangyong, Head of the National Disaster and Safety Headquarters, is recognized for his outstanding work capabilities, excellent interpersonal skills, and media response abilities as a spokesperson. He has accumulated expertise and response capabilities through his experience as Director of Safety Planning, Director General for Disaster Response Policy, and Director General for Natural Disaster Management at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. According to the Presidential Office, he is considered the right person to thoroughly prepare for natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and to lead efforts to make the country safer and protect the lives of its people.

Spokesperson Kang stated, "This round of vice-ministerial appointments balances both stability and change, placing professional officials at the center so that each ministry can deliver immediate results." She added, "The Lee Jaemyung administration will continue to assign competent officials to the right positions to ensure the public feels the effectiveness of government policies."