President Lee Jae Myung reshuffles six ministries... Lee Hyoung-il for economy and finance, Kang Shin-cheol for defense, Hong Ji-seon for land

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung carried out a personnel shake-up on the 30th. It was a mid-scale cabinet reshuffle that replaced six ministries and key aides, including the senior presidential secretary for AI future planning at Cheong Wa Dae.
Chief of Staff to the President Kang Hoon-sik announced the reshuffle at a briefing in the Chunchugwan Press Center that day. Kang said, "These appointments are intended to lead the sweeping social transformation that South Korea must pursue." He added, "With new leadership that has dynamism and expertise, we will create tangible changes that people can feel and help drive Korea's leap forward into an irreplaceable nation."
President Lee nominated Lee Hyoung-il, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as deputy prime minister for economic affairs and minister of economy and finance. Kang described him as "one of the country's most respected policy experts who has held key posts across economic policymaking." He added, "He has already proven his ability to execute policy, including by leading the introduction of a cap on oil prices in response to high oil prices driven by tensions in the Middle East. As a young economic commander, he is expected to connect record-high economic indicators with qualitative improvements in people's lives, overcome polarization, and guide our economy toward stable growth."
For minister of justice, Lee nominated Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Seung-won. For minister of national defense, he nominated former deputy commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command Kang Shin-cheol.
He also nominated Hong Ji-seon, second vice minister of MOLIT, as minister of land, infrastructure and transport, and Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Soyoung Lee as minister of SMEs and startups. Yong Hye-in, leader of the Basic Income Party, was nominated as minister of gender equality and family.
Asked about the appointment of sitting lawmakers as ministerial candidates, Kang said, "Their work on the relevant standing committees was naturally reflected in the process." He added, "Lawmaker Yong Hye-in served on the Gender Equality and Family Committee, lawmaker Soyoung Lee served on the Industry Committee, and lawmaker Kim Seung-won served on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. I believe they had expertise in their respective fields, and that experience was reflected in these appointments."
On the appointment of opposition figures, he also emphasized, "This reshuffle was based solely on merit, as we wanted to bring about practical changes that people can feel more quickly and spread them more widely." He added, "If there were capable people from the opposition who could join us, we wanted to bring them in as much as possible. The only criterion was ability."
Further appointments to Cheong Wa Dae staff were also announced. Lee Hae-min, a lawmaker from the Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), was tapped as senior presidential secretary for AI future planning. Lee Won-joo, head of energy transition policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, was named as senior aide for mega projects.
In addition, President Lee nominated former senior presidential secretary for AI Ha Jung-woo as vice chair of the National AI Strategy Committee, and former chair Kim Kyung-soo of the Presidential Committee for the Era of Local Autonomy as special presidential adviser to the government.

[email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter