President Lee Jae-myung appointed Hong Ji-sun as the new Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on September 22. Hong is a seasoned bureaucrat with extensive experience in urban housing, road, rail, and construction sectors, primarily in Gyeonggi Province.
Born in 1970 in Donghae, Gangwon Province, Hong graduated from Seongnam High School and earned a degree in civil engineering from Hanyang University. She later obtained a master's degree in civil engineering from Hanyang University and another master's in urban and regional planning from the University of Birmingham in the UK.
After passing the local civil service exam, Hong built her career mainly in Gyeonggi Province. She has held key positions such as Director of Road Policy, Director of Construction, Director of Railways, and Director of Railway and Port Logistics, gaining significant experience in social overhead capital (SOC) projects. She later expanded her responsibilities as the Director of Urban Housing, overseeing urban planning and housing policies.
During President Lee's tenure as Gyeonggi Province governor, Hong served as the Director of Railway and Port Logistics and the Director of Urban Housing, where she was involved in implementing the basic housing policy initiated by the province. In 2024, she became the Deputy Mayor of Namyangju, overseeing overall city administration, and was appointed as the Second Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in December of the previous year, transitioning to a central government role. As Second Vice Minister, she managed transportation sectors including roads, railways, aviation, and logistics, as well as construction policies.
Hong's career is characterized by her experience in both local and central government, contributing to policy formulation and on-site execution in the land and transport sector. The National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee noted in its confirmation report that Hong possesses a solid understanding of the sector and practical experience based on her key positions in Gyeonggi Province and as Second Vice Minister. However, the report also included dissenting opinions from opposition parties regarding her qualifications for the role.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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