Lim Gitaek and Hwang Jongwoo Floated as Candidates for Oceans and Fisheries Minister

Presidential office vetting multiple candidates, including figures with Busan ties

Im Gitaek, former IMO Secretary-General (left), and Hwang Jongwoo, director of the Korea Maritime Foundation. Yonhap News

Former International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Lim Gitaek and Hwang Jongwoo, director of the Korea Maritime Foundation, are being mentioned as candidates for the vacant Minister of Oceans and Fisheries post.

According to ruling party officials on the 22nd, the presidential office is said to be reviewing several candidates, including these two figures.

The position of Minister of Oceans and Fisheries has remained vacant for more than two months since former Minister Jeon Jae-soo resigned. Earlier, President Lee Jaemyung said at a Cabinet meeting held immediately after the opening ceremony of the ministry's Busan government office last year that he would "preferably look for the next minister from the Busan area."

Former Secretary-General Lim is from Masan in South Gyeongsang Province and began his public service career at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, later serving as president of the Busan Port Authority, among other posts. In 2016, he became the first Korean to be elected Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, and he served until 2023. His experience in the field of international maritime safety and environmental regulations is cited as his strength.

Director Hwang is a former bureaucrat who has held various positions along the planning and coordination line within the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. He has served in key posts in port logistics and maritime safety, and as head of the Office of Planning and Coordination he was responsible for organizational management and policy coordination. He is being evaluated as a figure who can ensure policy continuity and maintain strong internal control.

Because both figures have ties to the Busan-Gyeongnam (PK) region and possess expertise in the maritime sector, some interpret the candidate lineup as an attempt to balance regional representation while also ensuring policy stability.