President Lee nominates 6 new ministers

The presidential office announced President Lee Jae Myung’s additional ministerial nominations, Sunday. They are, clockwise from top left, Koo Yun-cheol, nominee for minister of economy and finance; Lee Jin-sook, nominee for minister of education; Jeong Seong-ho, nominee for minister of justice; Jeong Eun-kyeong, nominee for minister of health and welfare; Kim Jung-kwan, nominee for minister of trade, industry and energy, and Yun Ho-jung, nominee for minister of the interior and safety. Courtesy of presidential office

President Lee Jae Myung nominated Koo Yun-cheol, a special-appointed professor of economics at Seoul National University, as minister of economy and finance, Sunday. The nomination was part of a broader set of Cabinet appointments that included several ministerial appointments and two senior presidential secretaries.

During a press briefing, presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik stated that Koo's widely respected policy expertise was a key reason for his appointment.

"Koo has previously served as budget director and second vice minister of strategy and finance, as well as minister for government policy coordination," Kang said. "As demonstrated in his books such as 'Revolution Korea' and 'AI Korea,' he is deeply engaged in Korea's innovation strategy. With his expertise in national finance and broad policy knowledge, he is the right person to guide Korea's next phase of growth," Kang added.

For minister of justice, Rep. Jeong Seong-ho, a five-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) was nominated.

Kang noted that Jeong has extensive experience in judicial affairs, having chaired the National Assembly's Special Committee on Judicial Reform and the Special Committee on Criminal Justice Reform. He also served as a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

"Jeong has a deep understanding of judicial reform. He is expected to lead meaningful changes in the prosecution system," Kang noted.

Kim Jung-Kwan, the current CEO of Doosan Enerbility, was nominated as minister of trade, industry and energy. Kim previously served as a policy director at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and was awarded a Special Achievement Award during his tenure at the Bank of Korea.

"Kim combines public sector expertise and private sector experience. He reflects the president’s belief that now is the time to focus on growth," Kang said.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announces minister-level nominations at the presidential office in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

The president also nominated DPK Rep. Yun Ho-jung as minister of the interior and safety. Jeong Eun-Kyeong, a former commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, was nominated as minister of health and welfare. Lee Jin-sook, a former president of Chungnam National University, was nominated as minister of education.

Kang noted that Koo, Jeong Eun-Kyeong and Lee Jin-Sook were nominated through the public recommendation system, having received high numbers of recommendations from citizens.

In addition, the president appointed former prosecutor Bong Wook as senior secretary for civil affairs. Jeon Seong-hwan was appointed as senior secretary for public engagement and social cohesion, a newly created position.

Former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo was appointed as chair of the Presidential Committee for Regional Development, a minister-level position. Kim has been a longtime advocate for balanced regional development and local autonomy. He is expected to lead efforts to implement the president's strategy for decentralization and regional revitalization.