Minister Song Mi-ryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will continue her position in the Lee Jae-myung administration. It is the first time in 26 years since the case of Minister Lee Gi-ho of the Ministry of Labor at the onset of the Kim Dae-jung administration in 1998 that a minister from the previous administration remained in office during a transition to a government with different inclinations. This is interpreted as a reflection of the personnel appointment policy of President Lee Jae-myung, who is emphasizing practicality and integration.
In the announcement made on the 23rd by the presidential office regarding the appointments of ministers in 11 departments, it was decided that Minister Song Mi-ryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will remain in her position. Appointed under the government of Yoon Suk-yeol, Minister Song maintained her position even with a complete change in both the administration and the ruling party. There was a precedent in 2013 when Minister of National Defense Gen. Kim Kwan-jin was retained during the transition from the Lee Myung-bak administration to the Park Geun-hye administration; however, the ruling party was maintained at that time, which distinguishes it from this situation.
Political circles and government officials evaluate the decision to retain Minister Song as symbolically demonstrating the launch of Lee Jae-myung's 'practical government.' President Lee has emphasized 'capability-based appointments and national unity appointments' since his inauguration. In the previously announced appointments of new vice-ministerial officials, many bureaucrats who had worked in the prior administration were also included, drawing attention.
It is reported that Minister Song had extensive discussions with President Lee Jae-myung on agricultural policy issues, prices, disaster response, and other topics during the first Cabinet meeting held immediately after the new government was inaugurated. A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official noted, 'At that time, the president was deeply impressed by Minister Song's explanations.'
So far, Minister Song has shown a somewhat critical stance towards agriculture-related bills led by the Democratic Party of Korea. In particular, she expressed opposition to amendments to the Grain Management Act, the Agricultural Product Price Stabilization Act, and the Korean Beef Industry Act, stating they could disrupt market order. She referred to these bills as 'legislation that could threaten agriculture,' labeling them the 'Four Agricultural Threat Laws,' while positioning herself against the then-opposition party (Democratic Party of Korea).
Nonetheless, the fact that Minister Song has been retained in the appointments for the new government is interpreted as having gained President Lee's trust regarding her expertise, work execution capability, and responsiveness to current issues. Within the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, evaluations have emerged stating, 'This personnel decision reflects practical ability' and 'was judged primarily based on suitability of the individual.'
Minister Song is an expert who has long been involved in research in the fields of agriculture and rural areas. After graduating from Ewha Womans University with a degree in political science and diplomacy, she obtained a master's degree in urban planning and a doctorate in public administration from Seoul National University. She then joined the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), where she served as the head of the regional development team, head of the rural policy research department, and vice president, and has been the head of the Agricultural Outlook Center since 2016. She is recognized for bridging both the theory and practice of rural policy.
▲Chungnam Nonsan (56) ▲Ewha Womans University, Department of Political Science and Diplomacy ▲Master's in Urban Planning and Doctorate in Public Administration from Seoul National University ▲Vice President and Head of the Agricultural Outlook Center at the Korea Rural Economic Institute ▲Commissioner of the National Intellectual Property Commission, directly under the President ▲Vice President of the Korean Regional Development Association ▲Vice President of the Korean Society of Rural Planning ▲Member of the Policy Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs ▲Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs