Who is Park Jung-sung and why was he chosen as Korea’s new trade minister?

Park Jung-sung is a veteran trade official with experience in economic and trade policy. He is expected to provide continuity in negotiations and help manage investment projects in the United States.

What experience does Park Jung-sung have with U.S. trade negotiations?

He led working-level negotiations on U.S. tariffs at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. He also oversaw trade and investment talks with Washington after becoming vice trade minister in November last year.

What did Park Jung-sung study and how did his career in public service begin?

He studied economics at Seoul National University and law at Nova Southeastern University. After passing the national exam in 1996, he began his civil service career and later took on key trade-related posts.

Who is Korea's new trade minister, Park Jung-sung?

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Summary

Park Jung-sung was tapped as Korea’s new trade minister on Friday, bringing years of trade and economic policy experience. He studied economics at Seoul National University and law at Nova Southeastern University, and joined public service after passing the national exam in 1996. He previously coordinated WTO Investment Facilitation for Development negotiations and led working-level U.S. tariff talks. He is expected to maintain continuity in negotiations and investment projects tied to the United States.

Key Facts

Park Jung-sung studied economics at Seoul National University and earned a law degree from Nova Southeastern University in the United States.
He entered civil service after passing the national exam in 1996.
He served as a co-coordinator of the WTO Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement negotiations.
He was the lead working-level negotiator for a task force on U.S. tariff negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
He was named vice trade minister in November last year and oversaw trade and investment negotiations with Washington.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 21, 2026 5:02 pm KST

Park Jung-sung, then vice trade minister, speaks during a meeting held at Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry headquarters in Seoul, Aug. 11. Courtesy of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources

Park Jung-sung, tapped as the country's new trade minister Friday, is a seasoned trade official with extensive experience in trade and related policy areas.

Park, 54, studied economics at Seoul National University and earned a law degree from Nova Southeastern University in the United States.

He began his civil service career after passing the national exam in 1996 and has since held several key posts in economic and trade policy.

He served as a co-coordinator of the World Trade Organization (WTO)'s Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement negotiations and as the lead working-level negotiator for a task force on U.S. tariff negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Park was named vice trade minister in November last year, overseeing trade and investment negotiations particularly with Washington.

He is expected to be well positioned to maintain continuity in negotiations amid mounting trade issues, including efforts to promote investment projects in the United States.

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