South Korea President Lee Jae-myung unveils 1st batch of key nominations including PM, top aides
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Newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (second from right) speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on June 5.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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SEOUL – President Lee Jae-myung unveiled key nominations on his first day of presidency
At a briefing room of the presidential office, Mr Lee announced that he had picked four-term Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok as the nominee for prime minister.
Mr Lee said Mr Kim, 61, is the right fit for the position, which the President described as being “a mediator between the Cabinet and people”.
Mr Lee touted Mr Kim’s vast experience in politics, ability to execute policies to improve people’s quality of life, and expertise in handling international affairs.
Mr Kim has served as a senior member of the Democratic Party’s supreme council since Mr Lee chaired the party. Recently, Mr Kim was one of the co-chairs of Mr Lee’s presidential campaign team.
Under the National Assembly Act, Mr Kim may serve as both the prime minister and a lawmaker, so he may retain his parliamentary seat.
In addition, Mr Lee Jong-seok was nominated as chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the country’s spy agency. The 67-year-old will be the right person to safeguard the country’s national interest in the face of international trade fluctuations, President Lee said.
The NIS chief nominee formerly served as minister of unification and led the standing committee of the National Security Council during the late former president Roh Moo-hyun’s term.
President Lee described him as capable of seeking a breakthrough from the strained relationship between the two Koreas.
Before the President’s final approval, Mr Kim’s and Mr Lee Jong-seok’s nominations will require a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, where the major liberal party holds the majority of seats.
Three-term Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Hoon-sik, 51, was tapped as the presidential chief of staff.
President Lee’s office stated that Mr Kang will be the first chief of staff to have been born in 1970 or later, which will allow the administration to add speed to its handling of state affairs.
Mr Kang has represented the Asan-B constituency in South Chungcheong province since 2016.
Representative Wi Sung-lac of the Democratic Party was picked as the national security adviser. He was formerly the South Korean ambassador to Russia.
The presidential office said Mr Wi played a crucial role in crafting the President’s campaign pledges on foreign affairs and national security.
Both Mr Kang and Mr Wi are to lose their positions as members of the National Assembly.
Mr Lee also named Representative Kang Yu-jung of the Democratic Party as the presidential spokesperson, and tapped Mr Hwang In-kwon, a former four-star army general, as the new leader of the Presidential Security Service.
President Lee told reporters all the people he nominated are not only loyal to the people, but also competent, adding that these two traits will continue to be the barometer for his future nominations.
He also said during the briefing that he will not rush to nominate ministers related to South Korea’s economy and industry, or carry out an overhaul of the organisation of the presidential office. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
