President Lee Appoints Cho Jeong-sik and Han-Joo Lee as Special Advisors... Preparing for Potential 'Aide Vacancies' Ahead of Next Year's Local Elections?

[Financial News] On the 28th, President Lee Jae-myung carried out appointments at the ministerial and vice-ministerial levels, while also naming new special advisors for political and policy affairs, as well as economic and science-technology advisory positions. The appointment of figures from the opposition, reflecting a stance of integration and pragmatism, has drawn attention. Analysts believe that the creation and selection of these new special advisory roles are strategic moves to address potential aide vacancies during next year’s local elections, coordinate policies following the reorganization of economic governance, and respond to external issues.
According to the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea and political circles, Cho Jeong-sik was appointed as Special Political Advisor and Han-Joo Lee, Chairperson of the NRC, as Special Policy Advisor. This supports the interpretation above. The Office of the President of the Republic of Korea explained that these special advisory roles are honorary and unpaid, but when necessary, they provide counsel and support on overall political and policy matters. In political circles, there is speculation that, with figures such as Woo Sang-ho (Senior Secretary for Political Affairs) and Kim Yong-beom (Chief Policy Officer) being mentioned as potential candidates for next year’s local elections, the administration is securing a backup pool of aides in anticipation of possible lineup changes.
In the economic sector, Kim Seong-sik, a former lawmaker, was appointed as Vice Chairperson of the National Economic Advisory Council. Kim, who previously served as secretary of the Strategy and Finance Committee and as chairperson of the Policy Committee, is recognized for his experience in coordinating macroeconomic and fiscal policies. Especially as the Lee Jae-myung administration reorganizes government functions—separating budget responsibilities from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and establishing the Ministry of Planning and Budget under the Prime Minister's Office—Kim is expected to play a key role in policy coordination and advisory work.
Lee Kyung-soo, Chairperson of EnableFusion Inc., was nominated as Vice Chairperson of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology (PACST). As a nuclear fusion expert with experience overseeing science and technology policy, Lee is expected to strengthen the government’s strategies in AI transition, energy, and advanced technology. Externally, with sensitive nuclear fuel and nuclear-related discussions ongoing between South Korea and the United States, the elevation of the science and technology advisory line to ministerial level is seen as a move to enhance expertise.
The Office of the President of the Republic of Korea repeatedly emphasized 'integration and pragmatism' as the background for these appointments. Attention is now focused on whether this so-called 'package appointment'—which simultaneously established political, policy, economic, and science-technology advisory lines—will enhance both policy execution and political stability.
west@fnnews.com Reporter Seong Seok-woo Reporter