Three-Term Former Lawmaker, Advocate of "Honoring National Merit"
Centrist Reformist Emphasizing Recognition for Patriots
Expectations for Innovation in Veterans Administration
On June 23, President Lee Jaemyung conducted his first cabinet reshuffle, nominating former National Assembly member Kwon Oeul as the candidate for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Kwon, who served three terms in the National Assembly, is regarded as a centrist reformist politician respected across party lines.
In a briefing that day, Kang Hunsik, Chief Presidential Secretary, explained the nomination by stating, "Kwon is a figure with extensive political experience and a strong commitment to social integration. He is the right person to elevate the honor and treatment of national merit recipients and veterans."
Kwon, a native of Daegu, has contributed to improving the quality of life for citizens through his roles as Chair of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee and as a member of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. Notably, during his time in the National Assembly, he consistently advocated for amendments to strengthen the legal rights of national merit recipients and highlighted the need for improvements in veterans’ administration.
The political community expects this appointment to serve as a catalyst for substantial innovation in veterans’ administration. Shortly after his nomination, Kwon stated, "A nation where those who have devoted themselves to the country are respected is a truly advanced nation," and added, "I will simultaneously pursue enhanced treatment for national merit recipients and a comprehensive digital transformation of the veterans’ system."
This marks the first ministerial appointment for the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs since it was elevated from an agency to a ministry earlier this year. As such, Kwon faces the dual tasks of stabilizing the organization and raising the standards of veterans’ affairs.
The appointment will be finalized following a National Assembly confirmation hearing. If Kwon passes the confirmation process, he will become the first Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs under the current administration, initiating a full-scale reform drive.
The selection of a senior figure with bipartisan experience for the post, which demands political neutrality and balanced governance, is seen as a reflection of the president’s philosophy of "integration and pragmatism."
Kwon Oeul, nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, was born in March 1957 in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. He is a graduate of Gyeongbuk High School and holds a degree in Political Science and Diplomacy from Korea University, as well as a master’s in Economic Development from Korea University Graduate School of Policy. He has served as Vice President of the Korean Parliamentary Society, the 25th Secretary General of the National Assembly, Chair of the 17th National Assembly’s Agriculture, Forestry, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Committee, a member of the 16th and 17th National Assembly (Hannara Party, Andong, North Gyeongsang), a member of the 15th National Assembly (United Democratic Party, Andong, North Gyeongsang), and as a member of the North Gyeongsang Provincial Council.
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