[2025 Audit] Hansung Sook: "Unaware of Consideration of In Taeyeon, 'Kim Eo-jun's Brother-in-law,' as Second Vice Minister"

"Inappropriate to Express Opinions on Individual Candidates"

Hansung Sook, Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated that she was unaware of the strong consideration of In Taeyeon, former Presidential Secretary for Self-Employed Affairs, as the newly established second vice minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and only learned about it through news reports.

Hansung Sook, Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is reporting on business affairs at the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee's audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on October 14, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On October 14, at the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, during the audit of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups by the Industry, Trade, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, Minister Han responded to a question from Kim Sungwon, a member of the People Power Party, who asked, "It is being reported that former Secretary In is being strongly considered as the second vice minister. Did you express your personal opinion on this?"

When Assemblyman Kim further asked, "Do you support the appointment of former Secretary In?" Minister Han replied, "According to the Government Organization Act, appointments are the prerogative of the President, and as a minister, I believe it is inappropriate to express personal opinions on individual candidates. I merely conveyed that I hoped someone with professional knowledge of small business owners would be appointed through the secretary for SMEs."

Former Secretary In has served as the Senior Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Special Committee for Small Business Owners, Co-Chairman of the National Federation of Distributors, and Chairman of the Korea Federation of Microenterprise and Small Business. In 2018, he was appointed as the Presidential Secretary for Self-Employed Affairs under the Moon Jae-in administration. He is also the elder brother-in-law of YouTuber Kim Eo-jun. As reports emerged that the Ministry of SMEs and Startups was strongly considering former Secretary In for the newly established second vice minister position, criticism has arisen, calling it a typical example of a 'reward appointment.'

Following the passage of the Government Organization Act in the National Assembly on September 26, a second vice minister position will be established at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. The second vice minister will be exclusively responsible for tasks related to the development and support of small business owners.