Ha Jun-kyung's promotion to policy chief is seen as a move by President Yoon Suk-yeol to ensure continuity in existing economic policies.
On October 1, President Yoon appointed Ha, who had been working closely with former policy chief Kim Yong-beom, to the position following Kim's departure. With Ha's promotion, the position of senior secretary for economic growth has been filled by Moon Shin-hak, the current vice minister of trade, industry, and energy. Together, they will lead economic policy alongside Ryu Deok-hyun, the senior secretary for fiscal planning.
Going forward, Ha, who is well-versed in the government's economic direction since its inception, will oversee policy coordination, while Moon will enhance the implementation of policies in the industrial sector.
Ha participated in President Yoon's campaign during the 2022 presidential election, serving as the chair of the Central Campaign Committee's Fair Growth Strategy Committee. He has played a key advisory role in shaping major pledges for the upcoming 2024 election.
During a senior secretary meeting following the announcement, President Yoon introduced Ha as a 'social economist' and stated, "Economic issues directly related to our citizens' lives are fundamentally important." He added, "As stability is being achieved, we should now pay special attention to social policy areas."
In his inaugural remarks, Ha emphasized the need for harmony among policies. He stated, "I will do my best as an advisor to create a prosperous South Korea through the mutual harmony of social policy, science and technology policy, and economic policy."
Ha is expected to design policies that integrate social policy with existing growth strategies, aiming to translate the economic stability noted by President Yoon into tangible benefits for citizens.
The Blue House's announcement of plans to strengthen housing, job creation, and financial support for the underprivileged aligns with this approach.
Ultimately, Ha will be evaluated on his ability to translate the combination of growth and distribution he has advocated as an economist into actionable policies, budgets, and execution.
Moon's experience in the industrial and energy sectors will support this comprehensive policy approach in the real economy. His task will be to enhance the effectiveness of policies in investment and production at the corporate level, drawing on his background in addressing manufacturing and export issues.
Moon is tasked with linking investments in advanced industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) to concrete outcomes in three major mega projects. The key will be how large-scale investments and export expansions translate into growth for partner companies and small businesses, as well as regional job creation. Addressing challenges in the industrial sector and accelerating the execution of investment plans will also become increasingly important.
Seong Gi-hong, the Blue House's chief of public relations, explained during a briefing that Moon's appointment is based on his expertise as a real economy specialist who has held key positions in the industrial and energy sectors. He stated that Moon's capabilities in leading the development of advanced industries like semiconductors and AI will drive the rapid advancement of new growth engines, as well as lead to a recovery in potential growth rates through an execution-focused economic growth strategy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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