President Lee Jae-myung appointed Ryu Je-myeong as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 29th. Additionally, he appointed Lee Jin-soo as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Lee Ho-hyun as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Lee Hyung-hoon as Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, and Lee Sang-gyeong as First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Ryu Je-myeong, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, is a person who has held key positions such as Director of Artificial Intelligence-Based Policy and Director of Network Policy. Kang Yu-jeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, noted, "This is an appointment made based on an assessment of his ability to drive operations," adding that he is "the right person to lead AI policy and departmental issues alongside Minister nominee Bae Gyeong-hun, a private-sector AI expert, and Chief AI Planner Ha Jeong-woo." The Presidential Office stated that this reflects President Lee's commitment to the aspiration of becoming "a leading nation in AI."
Lee Jin-soo, the Vice Minister of Justice, is a non-specialized prosecutor. Kang, the spokesperson, stated, "He is recognized for his ability to understand the challenges faced by the majority of prosecutors working in the Criminal Department," adding that he has been tasked with the role of enforcing justice and human rights and reviving the prosecution's original mission of protecting neighbors and communities from crime as an expert in criminal investigations related to people's daily lives.
Lee Ho-hyun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, is considered a highly respected figure in the ministry, having been selected as the "top official whom you want to work with." The spokesperson remarked, "He is evaluated as a talent with expertise in the energy sector, based on his experience in expanding renewable energy, energy mix, and the development of new energy technologies, and is viewed as capable of understanding the president's promise to create an 'Energy Highway' while fostering future industries, including semiconductors and AI data centers."
Lee Sang-gyeong, the First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is regarded as a 'real estate reformer' who has advocated for blocking real estate windfall profits and reclaiming development benefits. The spokesperson noted, "He has consistently argued for a paradigm shift in housing policy recognizing housing as a right, rather than ownership, including the expansion of customized public housing," stating that various policies will be developed to improve the housing rights of ordinary citizens through a reformed yet practical approach to real estate.
Lee Hyung-hoon, the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, who has been appointed as the right person to resolve the 'healthcare crisis', has served as the Director of Mental Health Policy and the Director of Health Policy, as well as the Director of Health Industry Policy. Given his experience across various roles in the health and welfare sector, he is seen as someone with a high level of policy understanding, according to the Presidential Office.
Meanwhile, on the same day, President Lee nominated six minister candidates from various ministries and appointed two chief secretaries in the Presidential Office. He nominated former Office for Government Policy Coordination head Koo Yun-cheol as the first Minister of Economy and Finance, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Chung Sung-ho as Minister of Justice, and Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Yoon Ho-joong as Minister of the Interior and Safety. Jeon Seong-hwan, former chief secretary of the Sejong City Education Office, and Bong-wook, former Vice Commissioner of the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office, were appointed as spokespersons for the Presidential Office.