New Appointments in South Korea's Ministry of Health and Customs Service

President Lee Jae-myung appointed Hyun Soo-yeop as the new Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare and Lee Jong-wook as the Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service on May 15. This reshuffle comes less than a year after both officials were initially appointed.

Lee Gyu-yeon, senior secretary for public relations at the Blue House, announced the personnel changes during a briefing at the Chunchugwan.

Hyun Soo-yeop, the new Deputy Minister, is a seasoned bureaucrat who has held key positions in the ministry, including Director of Population and Child Policy and Head of Childcare Policy.

Lee noted that Hyun, a working mother of four, has significantly contributed to improving the working conditions for childcare teachers and implementing on-site childcare systems. He described her as the right person to build a comprehensive social safety net that encompasses both welfare and health.

Regarding Lee Jong-wook, the new Customs Commissioner, Lee highlighted his success in uncovering large-scale illegal exports and collaborating with the Thai government to crack down on drug trafficking. He emphasized that Lee is well-suited to support stable trade and investment activities for domestic companies while preventing customs violations that threaten public safety.

Hyun Soo-yeop and Lee Myung-koo were appointed in June and July of last year, respectively, with Hyun being designated as the 'Dedicated Deputy Minister for Social Isolation' just two days prior to this announcement.

When asked about the reasons for the personnel changes, Lee Gyu-yeon acknowledged the challenges of starting a new role and expressed gratitude for the contributions both officials made in laying the groundwork for policies in their respective fields. He added that the new appointments are expected to lead to more efficient and elevated policy development.

Additionally, President Lee appointed Moon Sung-yo, the Planning and Coordination Director at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as the new head of the Saemangeum Development Agency, following the vacancy left by Kim Ui-gyeom's candidacy for a by-election in Gunsan, Gimje, and Buan.

Lee Gyu-yeon described Moon as a veteran bureaucrat in land and urban development, noting his role in establishing the infrastructure for administrative-centered complex cities and developing the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam master plan. He expressed optimism that Saemangeum will play a significant role in becoming a hub for future advanced industries such as robotics, hydrogen, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Furthermore, President Lee appointed Hong Mi-young, a former lawmaker, as chair of the Sustainable Development Commission, Kim Ki-young, a professor at Yonsei University, as chair of the National Library Commission, and Baek Jong-woo, a professor in the Department of Mental Health at Kyung Hee University, as vice chair of the National Safety Commission.