Lee Jae Myung's 'second-term system' draws attention as Jung Sung-ho, Kang Hoon-sik, and Han Seong-sook are mentioned as possible next prime minister

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[Financial News] As the June 3 local elections have wrapped up, the Blue House is expected to begin restructuring work to form the Lee Jae Myung administration's "second-term system." In particular, speculation is growing that Prime Minister Kim Min-seok may soon announce his resignation to run for the next Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader, which could speed up the search for a successor. Kim is expected to compete with Jung Chung-rae, who is seeking reelection as party leader. Against this backdrop, Lee is reportedly making a final decision on the next prime minister who will help lead state affairs in the administration's second year.
According to political sources on the 4th, Kim is expected to step down and formally declare his candidacy for party leader sometime this month. Jung Sung-ho, Minister of Justice; Han Seong-sook, Minister of SMEs and Startups; and Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President, are being widely mentioned as leading candidates to replace him.
Since the government needs to regain momentum after the June 3 local elections, Lee is expected to choose someone who understands his governing philosophy while also being able to manage the Cabinet smoothly. At the State Council and Emergency Economic Review Meeting held at the Blue House on the 2nd, Lee said, "If we double the pace of state affairs over the next four years and devote ourselves fully, I believe we can work as if we had eight years, even though we only have four years left." He added, "Starting in the second year, we need to create more tangible changes in people's lives, move faster, and broaden the scope of our efforts."
Jung Sung-ho stands out for his political weight. The five-term lawmaker is regarded as a representative pro-Lee figure who has long aligned himself with the president. He is seen as someone who could help steer future reform efforts and manage relations between the ruling and opposition parties, given his deep knowledge of party affairs and extensive experience in the National Assembly. His tenure as minister of justice, during which he handled key national tasks such as prosecutorial reform, is also seen as a factor that has earned Lee's trust.
Kang Hoon-sik is considered the person closest to the president in terms of working chemistry. Since the launch of the new administration, he has overseen Blue House operations and supported Lee at close range, while also being regarded as highly familiar with the full range of state affairs. In particular, he has experience in diplomacy and economic issues through his work as the president's special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, making him a strong candidate for driving the administration's second-year agenda forward quickly.
Han Seong-sook is seen as a choice that could put economic and livelihood issues front and center. A former Naver CEO from the private sector, she has strong expertise in platform and digital economy issues and has built hands-on administrative experience through her work on policies for small businesses and self-employed workers. If Han is appointed prime minister, it would also carry symbolic weight as the first female prime minister in the Lee Jae Myung administration. It would also mark the first female prime minister since Han Myeong-sook.
The selection of the next prime minister is expected to be the first signal of the administration's future policy direction. Choosing Jung Sung-ho would emphasize reform legislation and stronger control over party-government relations, while Han Seong-sook would highlight livelihood issues, innovation-led growth, and Kang Hoon-sik would signal stable governance.
However, some observers say the direction of the Cabinet reshuffle may also be influenced by the results of the June 3 local elections.
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter