SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung replaced the country’s top health and customs officials Friday in a vice-ministerial reshuffle carried out less than a year after both incumbents took office, the presidential office said.
Hyeon Su-yeop, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, was named first vice minister of health and welfare, while Lee Jong-wook, vice commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, was appointed customs commissioner, presidential spokesperson Lee Kyu-yeon said Friday.
They replace First Vice Health Minister Lee Se-ran and Customs Commissioner Lee Myung-gu, who are stepping down less than a year after assuming office in June and July of last year, respectively.
The presidential office dismissed speculation that the reshuffle amounted to disciplinary action.
“It has been about a year, and the government believes new appointments are needed to move policies forward more quickly,” spokesperson Lee said, adding that the outgoing officials had helped lay the groundwork for the administration’s key initiatives during its early months in office.
New Vice Health Minister Hyeon spent much of her career at the Health Ministry, serving in a broad range of healthcare and welfare policy roles. She previously handled issues involving emergency medical services, pharmaceutical policy, childcare and health technology, before later overseeing population and child policy and serving as ministry spokesperson.
New Customs Commissioner Lee Jong-wook was described as a longtime customs official who held several senior posts within the Korea Customs Service, including head of planning and coordination.
The presidential office said Lee played a key role in uncovering large-scale illegal export schemes designed to circumvent trade restrictions and tariffs, while also cooperating with Thai authorities to crack down on drug smuggling networks.
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