[Breaking News] President Lee Announces First Round of Appointments: Kim Min-seok Nominated as Prime Minister, Kang Hoon-sik as Chief of Staff

"Loyalty and Competence Taken as Top Priorities"

President Lee Jae-myung held a press conference at 2 PM on the 4th in the briefing room of the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, and announced his first round of appointments, including the Prime Minister nominee and the Presidential Chief of Staff. Incumbent members of the Democratic Party who have worked alongside President Lee in the 22nd National Assembly, such as Kim Min-seok, Kang Hoon-sik, Wi Sung-lac, and Kang Yoo-jung, were selected.

President Lee revealed that he had chosen four-term lawmaker Kim Min-seok as the nominee for Prime Minister. Since the party convention in August last year, President Lee and Representative Kim have worked together as party leader and chief senior member. President Lee described Representative Kim as "someone with extensive legislative experience, capabilities in livelihood policies, international perspective, and integrative political competence, making him the right person to overcome crises and restore the people's economy."

For Chief of Staff, he appointed Representative Kang Hoon-sik, who had served as the head of the general affairs office during this presidential campaign. He becomes the first Chief of Staff of presidential age born in the 1970s. By this, the administration aims to resolve pressing national affairs dynamically and swiftly. Representative Kang will resign his parliamentary position before joining the presidential office as Chief of Staff.

President Lee nominated Representative Wi Sung-lac as Chief of the National Security Office and former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-suk as the candidate for Director of the National Intelligence Service. Representative Wi is an expert who has served as minister for political affairs at the Embassy of Korea to the U.S., head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiation Headquarters, and Ambassador to Russia. Former Minister Lee is regarded as the right person to seek breakthroughs in the strained inter-Korean relations based on his expertise gained through researching and implementing North Korea-related policies.

Kang Yoo-jung, who played the role of President Lee's spokesperson since the party primaries, was also named as the presidential spokesperson in this first round of appointments. The reason for this selection was explained as "With a deep understanding of the President's political philosophy and policies, as well as refined communication skills and political sense, she is expected to become a bridge connecting the presidential office, the media, and the public."

Former Army General Hwang In-kwon has been appointed as Chief of the Security Service. President Lee noted, "During the period of martial law, the Security Service was criticized for degenerating into private soldiers protecting only the President," and explained that "Former General Hwang is the right person to reform the organization and establish open security for the public."

President Lee emphasized regarding these appointments, "We have prioritized loyalty to the people, expertise and competence in the relevant fields, and understanding of the national governing philosophy," and added, "We will continue to focus on competence and national unity as the guiding principles for further appointments."

Choi Hae-ryeon, Reporter haeryon@hankyung.com