Lee administration brings in former Justice Minister Gang Geumsil, assigns her to climate envoy role outside her specialty

[Financial News] Former Minister of Justice Gang Geumsil has joined the Lee Jae-myung administration. However, she has drawn attention by taking on a diplomatic envoy role rather than working in her main area of expertise, the legal field.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 30th that Gang, who currently serves as an advisor at One Law Partners, has been appointed Ambassador for Global Climate and Environment to support the government’s diplomatic activities in the climate and environment field.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Based on her broad and diverse experience and expertise across the climate and environment field, she is expected to play a key role in supporting our government’s activities." Gang previously served as an advisor to the National Council on Climate and Air Quality and as Gyeonggi Province Climate Ambassador. As the new Ambassador for Global Climate and Environment, she plans to attend major domestic and international events to promote understanding of Korea’s climate and environment policies, and to strengthen outreach and public communication with stakeholders in the private sector at home and abroad in this field.
Some observers note that her term as Ambassador for Global Climate and Environment is limited to one year, raising speculation that she may later take on another role in support of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
Gang served as the youngest inaugural Minister of Justice in the Roh Moo-hyun administration. She drew attention for pushing bold appointments that broke the prosecution’s traditions of "pure-blood" elitism and male dominance. She also made headlines when she joined President Roh in holding the first-ever televised discussion with rank-and-file prosecutors, which in turn sparked a publicized backlash from some prosecutors.
The Ambassador for Global Climate and Environment is an Ambassador for International Relations position established under the Act on the Appointment and Powers of Government Delegates and Special Envoys. Ambassadors for International Relations are private-sector figures with both expertise and public recognition in specific fields, who are granted the ambassadorial title for external affairs so that the government can utilize them in its diplomatic activities.
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter