Presidential Office Announces 12 Appointments, Including Ministers for 11 Ministries
First Civilian Nominated for Defense Minister Since the May 16 Coup
First Former KCTU Chairperson Nominated as Minister of Employment and Labor
Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, is giving a briefing on ministerial nominee appointments at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
On June 23, President Lee Jaemyung nominated candidates for ministers of 11 government ministries, including the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Representative Ahn Kyubaek of the Democratic Party was nominated as Minister of National Defense, making him the first civilian nominee for the post since the 5·16 military coup. Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, who was appointed under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, will remain in her position. Including Ahn Kyubaek, five sitting Democratic Party lawmakers have been newly included in this round of appointments.
On the 23rd, President Lee carried out appointments for 12 positions, including ministers of 11 ministries and the Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination. First, Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Kyubaek was nominated as Minister of National Defense. Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, stated, "Most of Representative Ahn's five-term career in the National Assembly has been spent serving on the National Defense Committee, giving him a deep understanding of the military," and added, "As the first civilian Minister of National Defense in 64 years, he will be responsible for leading changes in the military, which has been mobilized under martial law."
From the top row, left to right: Baek Kyunghoon, nominee for Minister of Science and ICT; Cho Hyun, nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs; Chung Dongyoung, nominee for Minister of Unification; Ahn Kyu-baek, nominee for Minister of National Defense; Kwon Oh-eul, nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; and the reappointed Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. From the bottom row, left to right: Kim Sunghwan, nominee for Minister of Environment; Kim Younghoon, nominee for Minister of Employment and Labor; Kang Sunwoo, nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family; Jeon Jaesu, nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries; Han Seongsuk, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups; and Yoon Changryul, appointed as Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination and LG Global Strategy Development Institute Director. Photo by Yonhap News
Kim Younghoon, former chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, has been nominated as Minister of Employment and Labor. Chief of Staff Kang introduced him as "a person who has represented the voices of labor," and said, "We expect him to play a role in strengthening the rights of working people, including reducing industrial accidents, revising the Yellow Envelope Act, and implementing a 4.5-day workweek."
Song Miryung will remain as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Although she was appointed under the Yoon Sukyeol administration, the presidential office stated that since Minister Song agrees with the new government's policy direction, there should be no issues in maintaining alignment with government operations.
Many Lawmakers Appointed... Business Leaders Also Selected as Ministers
Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff to the President, is giving a briefing on ministerial nominee appointments at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
A large number of lawmakers have been appointed as ministerial nominees. The presidential office selected Representative Kim Sunghwan as the new nominee for Minister of Environment. Chief of Staff Kang said, "He is a three-term lawmaker who has continuously addressed future environmental issues, including serving on the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. He understands the President's sense of urgency that the climate crisis is a crisis for everyone's survival, and will actively respond to environmental issues based on his legislative experience."
Kang Sunwoo, a lawmaker whose ministry is reportedly being considered for organizational restructuring, has been nominated as Minister of Gender Equality and Family. Chief of Staff Kang described her as "a policy expert who has worked to protect the rights and interests of the socially vulnerable through her roles as secretary of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee and as a member of the Gender Equality and Family Committee," and added, "She will work to resolve social conflicts in our society through communication and listening."
Kwon Oh-eul, a three-term lawmaker from Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, has been nominated as Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; Chung Dongyoung, a five-term lawmaker from North Jeolla Province, has been nominated as Minister of Unification; and Jeon Jaesu has been nominated as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.
Among those from the business sector, Baek Kyunghoon has been nominated as Minister of Science and ICT. Baek previously served as head of the LG AI Research Institute, and Yoon Changryul, head of the LG Global Strategy Development Institute, has been appointed as Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination. Han Seongsuk, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, is known for having led innovation at LINE and Naver.
Cho Hyun, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, has been nominated as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Chief of Staff Kang said, "He has extensive experience in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, having served as both first and second vice minister of foreign affairs," and added, "He is also well-versed in trade issues, having served as Director-General for International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
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