President Lee Jae-myung implemented Vice Minister appointments for certain ministries on the 20th. Kim Nam-jung, the former head of the North Korea Negotiation Department at the Ministry of Unification, was appointed as Vice Minister of Unification. Kim Min-jae was appointed as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Kang Hyeong-seok as Vice Minister of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kim Seong-beom as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Kim Gwang-yong as the head of the Disaster Safety Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jeong noted in a written briefing that "President Lee conducted Vice Minister appointments today" and announced these appointments.
Spokesperson Kang stated, "Vice Minister Kim Nam-jung has worked at the Ministry of Unification for about 30 years and is known as 'the history of the Ministry of Unification,'" adding, "He has been selected as the 'senior public official that employees most want to emulate' during his time at the Ministry of Unification, indicating his great reputation within the organization. His high level of expertise, having coordinated inter-Korean exchanges, cooperation, and summits while bridging fieldwork and policy, has been highly praised."
He added, "It is expected that he will dedicate himself to establishing a peace system on the Korean Peninsula with a unique sense of mission and extensive experience as a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Unification."
Vice Minister Kim Min-jae is described as a policy expert who has served as the director of local administrative policy, head of the Planning and Coordination Office, and Deputy Minister while also having held positions such as the head of the Gangwon Provincial Office.
Spokesperson Kang evaluated Kim, stating, "Having led regional balanced development agendas stably based on diverse work experiences, he is a person who will drive the Lee Jae-myung government's land balanced development and decentralization policies centered on ‘5 extremes and 3 specifics’ to respond to regional extinction crises."
He further explained that "Vice Minister Kang Hyeong-seok has carried out various duties, including director of rural policy at the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and head of the Agricultural Innovation Policy Division, and possesses a deep understanding and expertise in agricultural fields."
Vice Minister Kim Seong-beom is evaluated as a person with expertise and crisis response capabilities across all areas of maritime and fisheries, having held positions such as head of the Maritime Policy Division and director of the Ports Bureau at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
Spokesperson Kang said, "Having served as the chair of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund for 11 years, he is recognized for his exceptional international cooperation and communication skills, making him an optimal candidate to implement President Lee's promises regarding the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan and fostering new marine industries."
Kim Gwang-yong, the head of the Disaster Safety Headquarters, previously served as the director of safety planning and disaster response policy at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and as a spokesperson. Spokesperson Kang evaluated him as "the right person to lead safety operations that prepare thoroughly for natural disasters like floods and earthquakes and protect the safety and lives of the people."
Spokesperson Kang explained, "This Vice Minister appointment meets both stability and change, allowing each ministry to immediately achieve results by placing professional bureaucrats at the center."