Lee Appoints New Chief of Policy and Economic Advisors

President Lee Jae-myung appointed Ha Jun-kyung as the new Chief of Policy at the Blue House on October 1. Ha, who previously served as the Senior Secretary for Economic Growth, will be succeeded by Moon Shin-hak, the current Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.
 
This appointment fills the vacancy left by the resignation of former Chief of Policy Kim Yong-beom, which had lasted for a month, and confirms the leader responsible for overseeing economic and social policies.
 
Additionally, Song Young-gil, a member of the Democratic Party, was appointed as Special Advisor for Peace Diplomacy, while Kim Byeong-joo, also from the Democratic Party, was named Special Advisor for Defense Policy. The appointments of two vice ministers from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Land, as well as the chair of the Local Era Committee, were also announced.
 
Seong Gi-hong, the Blue House Chief of Public Relations, revealed these appointments during a briefing at the Chunchugwan. He explained that the changes reflect the President's intention to better consider the voices and lives of the people, ensuring that public opinion is faithfully reflected in governance.
 
The Blue House stated its aim to connect improvements in macroeconomic indicators, such as exports and growth, to the livelihoods of citizens and to strengthen social policies that will tangibly change people's lives. Seong emphasized that the focus is on enhancing the government's policy capabilities and execution abilities, particularly in strengthening foreign affairs and security.
 
Ha, as the inaugural Senior Secretary for Economic Growth under the Lee administration, has coordinated economic policies. The Blue House described him as a prominent scholar who has integrated fairness and the resolution of polarization into growth strategies.
 
Seong praised Ha's ability to transform the 'Korea Discount' into a 'Korea Premium' during his tenure as Senior Secretary for Economic Growth. He expressed expectations that Ha will create noticeable policy changes in areas directly related to citizens' lives, such as welfare, jobs, education, and housing, in his new role as Chief of Policy.
 
Moon, the new Senior Secretary, is an expert in the real economy with extensive experience in key positions in the industrial and energy sectors. The Blue House noted that he is expected to rapidly advance projects aimed at securing new growth engines, including three major mega-projects, based on his experience in fostering advanced industries like semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). He will also be responsible for leading efforts to recover potential growth rates through an execution-focused economic growth strategy.
 
The President appointed two current lawmakers as advisors to assist with foreign and defense policy. Song, the Special Advisor for Peace Diplomacy, is a six-term member who previously chaired the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. The Blue House anticipates that he will leverage his experience and expertise in foreign affairs and unification, along with his domestic and international networks, to expand the space for national interest diplomacy from a balanced perspective.
 
Kim, the Special Advisor for Defense Policy, is a former Army general. Seong described him as the right person to incorporate the voices of the people into national security and defense reform tasks while maintaining strong national defense capabilities to protect national interests.
 
In response to questions about the roles of the two advisors, Seong stated that they will support the President's governance based on their respective areas of expertise. Regarding the dual roles of lawmakers, he noted that it has been a precedent in both the current and past administrations for members of the National Assembly to serve as special advisors to the President.
 
Kwon Dae-young, the Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, was appointed as the First Vice Minister of Finance. The new vice minister is recognized as an economic and financial expert, having previously served as the Director of the Financial Policy Bureau and the Secretary General of the Financial Services Commission. The Blue House expects him to manage economic issues such as growth rates, inflation, and employment stably, leveraging his practical experience and policy coordination skills. He is also expected to continuously discover future growth engines using various policy tools.
 
Jeong Ui-gyeong, the Director of the Ministry of Land's Urban and Regional Planning Bureau, was appointed as the Second Vice Minister of Land. The new vice minister is described as a seasoned bureaucrat with extensive experience in transportation and land policy. The Blue House anticipates that he will expand the foundation for region-led growth through the enhancement of metropolitan transportation and logistics networks and ensure the smooth construction of infrastructure for the three major mega-projects.
 
Park Jeong-hyun, a former mayor of Buyeo, was appointed as the chair of the Local Era Committee, a position that became vacant due to Kim Kyung-soo's candidacy in local elections. Park, who hails from Chungcheong, has served as the mayor of Buyeo and the Deputy Governor of South Chungcheong Province. The Blue House explained that his experience in local government administration and direct engagement with issues of local extinction and regional imbalance were key factors in his selection. He is expected to support balanced national development that allows regions to become self-sustaining growth engines, moving beyond a growth structure centered on the capital region.
 
Seong emphasized that "now is the time for action," urging the need to respond to the public's desire for change in their livelihoods and to produce tangible results from reforms. He stated, "We will focus all our efforts on creating changes that the public can feel, being evaluated by actions rather than words, and taking responsibility for the results."
 
Meanwhile, Seong commented on the status of Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, who has expressed his intention to resign, stating, "I understand that the person with the authority to appoint is considering the matter." He also mentioned that he would soon clarify the position regarding the candidate for the head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency.