President Lee Jae-myung has nominated a new slate of ministers, featuring candidates in their 30s and 40s. Yong Hye-in, born in 1990, has been nominated as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, while Lee So-young, born in 1985, is set to lead the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, significantly lowering the average age of the nominees.
On August 30, President Lee announced the nominations for six ministerial positions, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Minister of SMEs and Startups, and the Minister of Gender Equality and Family.
Lee Hyung-il, the first deputy minister of finance, has been nominated for Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Kim Seung-won, a member of the Democratic Party, is the nominee for Minister of Justice, while Kang Shin-cheol, former deputy commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, has been nominated for Minister of National Defense. Hong Ji-sun, the second deputy minister of land, has been nominated for Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Lee So-young and Yong Hye-in are the nominees for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, respectively.
Particularly noteworthy is Yong, who is 36 years old. If confirmed after the National Assembly's confirmation hearing, she will become South Korea's first minister born in the 1990s. A two-term lawmaker, she currently serves as the floor leader of the Basic Income Party.
Yong's past appearances in the National Assembly are being revisited. After giving birth to her first child, she brought her 59-day-old son in a stroller to the National Assembly in July 2021. At that time, she advocated for the so-called 'Child Accompaniment Law,' which would allow lawmakers with infants under 24 months to enter the assembly with their children.
She argued that institutional support is necessary to ensure that childbirth and childcare do not hinder legislative activities. She believes that not only national lawmakers but also local council members should be able to balance childbirth, childcare, and their duties.
Yong has since served on the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee, addressing policy areas related to gender equality, family, and caregiving, which align with the responsibilities of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
The Blue House cited her legislative activities as a reason for her nomination. Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, stated that Yong has been a voice for vulnerable groups, advocating for measures to prevent digital sex crimes and improve work-life balance, making her well-suited to lead gender equality policies.
Another young nominee is Lee So-young, who is 41 years old.
Born in Busan in 1985, Lee graduated from Sungkyunkwan University with a degree in law and passed the 51st bar exam in 2009. She worked as a lawyer and an expert in climate and energy before entering politics, winning a seat in the National Assembly in 2020 from the Gyeonggi Province districts of Uiwang and Gwacheon. She was re-elected in the 2024 general election.
In the National Assembly, she has served on the Industry, Trade, and SMEs Committee and as the secretary of the Budget and Accounts Committee, focusing on industrial and small business policies. President Lee has appointed her as the ministerial candidate responsible for SMEs and startups.
The nominations of Yong and Lee have notably lowered the average age of the cabinet reshuffle. The average age of the six nominated ministers is now 50.5 years. The inclusion of 36-year-old Yong and 41-year-old Lee has significantly reduced this average.
When the first cabinet of the Lee Jae-myung administration was finalized last year, the average age of the 19 ministerial candidates and incumbent ministers was 60.1 years, with only two members in their 40s.
While this reshuffle does not involve a complete cabinet overhaul, the average age comparison between the first cabinet and the current six nominees has its limitations. However, the simultaneous emergence of Yong Hye-in, the first minister born in the 1990s, and Lee So-young in their early 40s highlights a noticeable trend toward a younger cabinet in this reshuffle.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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