President Lee Jae-myung announced a significant cabinet reshuffle on August 30, replacing ministers in six key departments, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The changes, which also affect the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, signal a commitment to revitalizing governance in the second year of his administration. Amid declining public support, the appointments reflect a desire for unity by including figures from both the ruling coalition and the pro-Moon Jae-in faction.
On this day, President Lee revealed the nominees for the six cabinet positions: the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
Lee Hae-min, nominated as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, is a seasoned policymaker with experience as the Director of Economic Policy at the Ministry of Economy and Finance and as an economic policy secretary in the Presidential Office.
Hong Ji-sun, currently the Second Vice Minister of Land, has spent nearly 28 years in key areas such as railways, roads, and construction in Gyeonggi Province, making her a well-regarded regional bureaucrat with extensive field experience in policy design and implementation.
This reshuffle is interpreted as a move to enhance policy coherence by appointing experienced bureaucrats. After the announcement, President Lee emphasized on X (formerly Twitter), "The government of the people will eradicate the disastrous real estate speculation by any means necessary," adding that the government will mobilize all resources for financial and tax reforms, as well as to increase and expedite housing supply.
Former Deputy Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, Kang Shin-cheol, has been nominated as the Minister of National Defense. His close involvement in alliance matters raises expectations about his ability to address pressing defense issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control and the integration of military academies.
Kim Seung-won, a re-elected member of the Democratic Party, has been nominated as the new Minister of Justice. Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik stated, "He understands the intent behind the reform of the criminal and judicial system better than anyone, and we expect him to prioritize the protection of victims' rights while swiftly implementing new systems."
Lee So-young, a member of the Democratic Party, has been nominated as the Minister of SMEs and Startups, while Yoon Hye-in from the Basic Income Party has been nominated as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family.
Yoon's appointment is particularly notable as she was born in 1990, and if confirmed, she will become the first minister from the 1990s generation.
The reshuffle of the presidential staff focused more on strengthening than on reform. Lee Hae-min from the Justice Party has been appointed as the Chief of AI Future Planning. This appointment, like Yoon's, highlights the inclusion of opposition figures from the ruling coalition.
Former Governor of Gyeongnam Kim Kyung-soo has been appointed as the President's Special Political Advisor, marking a significant appointment of a prominent pro-Moon figure.
Ha Jung-woo, former Chief of AI Future Planning, has been named Vice Chair of the National AI Strategy Committee, while Lee Won-joo, currently the Director of Energy Transition Policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, has been appointed as the Chief of the Mega Project Office, which will lead the government's "three mega projects."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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