'Integration and Pragmatism': President Lee Selects Lee Hyehoon as First Minister of Planning and Budget (Comprehensive)

Continued Commitment to National Unity and Pragmatism
Sungshik Kim and Kyungsoo Lee Appointed Vice Chairs of Economic and Science Advisory Councils
Kim Jonggu Named Vice Minister of Agriculture, Jisun Hong Appointed Deputy Minister II of Land Minist

President Lee Jaemyung made a surprise nomination of former lawmaker Lee Hyehoon as the first Ministerial Candidate for the Ministry of Planning and Budget. This move is interpreted as a continuation of the Lee Jaemyung administration's ongoing efforts toward national unity and pragmatism since its inauguration.

Additionally, Kim Sungshik, former member of the National Assembly, was appointed as Vice Chairman of the National Economic Advisory Council; Lee Kyungsoo, former Director of the National Fusion Research Institute, as Vice Chair of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council; Kim Jonggu, Director-General for Food Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; and Hong Jisun, Deputy Mayor of Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, as the new Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Furthermore, President Lee appointed Jung Josung, lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, as Special Political Advisor to the President, and Hanju Lee, President of the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, as Special Policy Advisor to the President.

Lee Guyoun, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations and Communication, stated in a briefing at the Chunchugwan of the Blue House on December 28, "Former lawmaker Lee is a figure 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 pursued policies to eradicate unfair practices and revitalize the livelihoods of ordinary people."

He further commented, "Based on her many years of legislative experience, we consider her the right person for the soon-to-be-launched Ministry of Planning and Budget to meticulously establish national mid- to long-term strategies and restore future growth engines."

Candidate Lee served three terms as a lawmaker in the predecessors of the People Power Party, including the Grand National Party, Saenuri Party, and United Future Party, and also ran as the People Power Party candidate for Jung-gu and Seongdong-gu Gap in Seoul in the 22nd general election. Regarding the selection of a figure from the conservative bloc as the first Ministerial Candidate for the Ministry of Planning and Budget, Secretary Lee stated, "President Lee's personnel philosophy for state affairs is fundamentally based on two pillars: integration and pragmatism. This principle was upheld in this appointment as well," adding, "She is recognized as an expert in the field of economic budgeting and possesses outstanding practical capabilities."

Hyehoon Lee, Ministerial Candidate for the Ministry of Planning and Budget

President Lee also appointed former lawmaker Kim as Vice Chairman of the National Economic Advisory Council and former Director Lee as Vice Chair of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council. Secretary Lee described newly appointed Vice Chairman Kim as "a two-term lawmaker with a clear reformist orientation and strong convictions, who has been recognized for his excellent policy capabilities as secretary of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee and as chair of the Special Committee on the Fourth Industrial Revolution." He added, "He is evaluated as a leader who can address various innovation challenges, such as overcoming the structural economic crisis and driving the transition to artificial intelligence (AI)."

Sungshik Kim, newly appointed Vice Chairman of the National Economic Advisory Council

Regarding newly appointed Vice Chair Lee, he said, "He is a world-renowned scholar in the field of nuclear fusion and a pioneer who has devoted nearly 40 years to research on 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 that he will contribute to Korea's advancement as one of the top three AI countries and top five science and technology powers."

Kyungsoo Lee, newly appointed Vice Chair of the National Science and Technology Advisory Council

Kim was appointed as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Hong as Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Regarding the early replacement of the Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Presidential Office explained that the decision was made to further enhance policy execution capabilities.

Secretary Lee explained, "New Vice Minister Kim is a career bureaucrat and a policy expert with extensive on-site experience and knowledge of the agri-food industry." He added, "He possesses outstanding abilities in coordinating opinions among various stakeholders based on his excellent communication skills." He continued, "He is considered the right person to implement a responsible transformation in agricultural policy, including establishing an income safety net for farmers and expanding K-Food Plus exports."

Kim Jonggu, newly appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Regarding new Deputy Minister Hong, he said, "He has held key positions in the fields of railways, roads, and construction in Gyeonggi Province for about 28 years," and described him as "a career bureaucrat with extensive practical experience from policy design to execution." He added, "He is evaluated as the right person to dynamically implement national tasks such as expanding transportation infrastructure for balanced regional development and realizing comprehensive transportation welfare for all citizens, thereby addressing the issue of transportation-disadvantaged areas."

Jisun Hong, New Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Finally, President Lee appointed lawmaker Jung as Special Political Advisor to the President and Chairman Lee as Special Policy Advisor to the President. These special advisors will play an advisory role in their respective areas as President Lee steers state affairs.

Secretary Lee explained that Special Political Advisor Jung "has demonstrated exceptional political acumen and communication skills as a six-term incumbent lawmaker with the most terms in office." He continued, "He has held major positions such as Chair of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, and Chair of the Policy Committee, and possesses both practical and coordination abilities." He added, "Based on this experience, he is expected to support President Lee's commitment to national unity and provide political support through communication between the ruling and opposition parties and between the government and the National Assembly."

Jung Josung, Special Political Advisor to the President

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

Hanju Lee, Special Policy Advisor to the President