President Lee Appoints Former Lawmaker Lee Hyehoon as First Minister of Planning and Budget in Surprise Move

Continued Commitment to National Unity and Pragmatism
Kim Seongsik and Lee Kyungsoo Appointed as Vice Chairpersons of the National Economic and National Science and Technology Advisory Councils
Kim Jonggu Named Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Hong Jiseon Appointed Second Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
Cho Jeongsik Appointed Special Political Advisor, Lee Hanju Named Special Policy Advisor to the President

President Lee Jaemyung made a surprise appointment of former lawmaker Lee Hyehoon as the first Minister of Planning and Budget. This move is interpreted as a continuation of the administration's commitment to national unity and pragmatism since the launch of the Lee Jaemyung government.

In addition, former National Assembly member Kim Seongsik was appointed as Vice Chairperson of the National Economic Advisory Council, former Director of the National Fusion Research Institute Lee Kyungsoo was named Vice Chairperson of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council, Kim Jonggu, Director of the Food Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, was appointed Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Hong Jiseon, Deputy Mayor of Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, was appointed the Second Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Furthermore, President Lee appointed National Assembly member Cho Jeongsik of the Democratic Party of Korea as Special Political Advisor to the President and Lee Hanju, Chairman of the Korea Economic and Social Research Institute, as Special Policy Advisor to the President.

Lee Guyoun, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations and Communications, stated at a briefing at the Chunchugwan Press Center at the Blue House on the 28th, "Former lawmaker Lee is well-versed in both policy and practical affairs, having served as secretary of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts and as a research fellow at the Korea Development Institute (KDI)." He added, "Based on her philosophy of economic democratization, she sponsored amendments to the Minimum Wage Act and the Interest Rate Limitation Act, and has promoted policies to eradicate unfair trade practices and revitalize people's livelihoods."

He further explained, "Based on her many years of legislative experience, she is considered the right person to ensure that the soon-to-be-launched Ministry of Planning and Budget carefully formulates the nation's mid- to long-term strategies to restore future growth engines." The nominee previously served three terms as a lawmaker for the predecessor parties of the People Power Party, including the Grand National Party, Saenuri Party, and United Future Party, and ran as the People Power Party candidate for Jung-gu Seongdong-gu Gap in Seoul in the 22nd general election.

President Lee also appointed former lawmaker Kim Seongsik as Vice Chairperson of the National Economic Advisory Council and former Director Lee Kyungsoo of the National Fusion Research Institute as Vice Chairperson of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council. Regarding the new vice chairperson Kim, Senior Secretary Lee said, "He is a reform-minded two-term former lawmaker with strong convictions, recognized for his outstanding policy capabilities as secretary of the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee and as chairperson of the Special Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution." He added, "He is expected to lead various innovation agendas, including overcoming structural economic crises and transitioning to artificial intelligence (AI)."

Regarding the new vice chairperson Lee, he stated, "He is a world-renowned scholar in the field of nuclear fusion and a pioneer who has devoted nearly 40 years to research in nuclear fusion, which is considered a next-generation energy source." He continued, "Having served as Director of the National Fusion Research Institute and as Head of the Innovation Headquarters at the Ministry of Science and ICT, he has led policy innovation in science and technology. We expect him to contribute to Korea's leap forward as one of the top three AI powers and top five science and technology nations."

Kim Jonggu, Director of the Food Policy Bureau, was appointed Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Hong Jiseon, Deputy Mayor of Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, was appointed the Second Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Senior Secretary Lee explained, "The new Vice Minister Kim is a career bureaucrat and a policy expert with extensive field experience and knowledge of the agri-food industry." He added, "He possesses excellent skills in coordinating opinions among various stakeholders based on his smooth communication abilities." He continued, "He is considered the right person to implement a responsible transformation in agricultural policy, such as establishing an income safety net for farmers and expanding K-Food Plus exports."

Regarding the new Second Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Hong Jiseon, he said, "She has held key positions in the fields of railways, roads, and construction in Gyeonggi Province for about 28 years." He introduced her as "a career bureaucrat with extensive hands-on experience from policy design to implementation." He added, "She is evaluated as the right person to dynamically realize national policy tasks such as expanding transportation infrastructure for balanced regional development and addressing transportation disadvantages in underprivileged areas to ensure transportation welfare for all citizens."

Yonhap News Agency

Finally, President Lee appointed National Assembly member Cho Jeongsik of the Democratic Party of Korea as Special Political Advisor to the President and Lee Hanju, Chairman of the Korea Economic and Social Research Institute, as Special Policy Advisor to the President. These special advisors will provide counsel in their respective fields as President Lee leads the administration.

Regarding Special Political Advisor Cho, Senior Secretary Lee said, "He is a six-term incumbent lawmaker, demonstrating outstanding political acumen and smooth communication skills." He added, "Having served in key positions such as Chairperson of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, and Chairperson of the Policy Committee, he possesses both practical and coordination capabilities." He continued, "Based on this, he is expected to support President Lee's commitment to national unity and provide political support for communication between the ruling and opposition parties and between the administration and the legislature."

Regarding Special Policy Advisor Lee, he said, "He is a former professor of economics who served as a member of the Moon Jaein Policy Planning Committee and as Chairperson of the Policy Planning Committee for the Lee Jaemyung government." He introduced him as "an expert who has designed the direction of state administration, with a high level of understanding of the Lee Jaemyung government's policy direction, including the establishment of a five-year state plan and the implementation of national policy tasks." He added, "He is considered the right person to fully perform the advisory role on the Lee Jaemyung government's policies."