Lee Jae-myung unveils 1st batch of key nominations including prime minister, top aides
President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday unveiled key nominations on his first day of presidency, including the prime minister nominee and his presidential aides, in his first briefing to reporters after entering the presidential office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
At a briefing room of the presidential office, Lee announced that he had picked four-term Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Rep. Kim Min-seok as the nominee for the prime minister of South Korea.
Lee said Kim, 61, was the right fit for the position, which Lee described as "a mediator between the Cabinet and people."
Lee touted Kim's vast experience in politics, capability to execute policies to improve people's quality of life and his expertise in handling international affairs. Kim has served as the senior member of the Democratic Party's supreme council since Lee chaired the party. Recently, Kim was one of the co-chairs of Lee's presidential campaign team.
Under the National Assembly Act, Kim may serve as both the prime minister and a lawmaker, so he may retain his parliamentary seat.
In addition, Lee Jong-seok was nominated as the chief of the National Intelligence Service, a spy agency of South Korea. The 67-year-old would be the right person who can safeguard South Korea's national interest in the face of international trade fluctuations, President Lee said. The NIS chief nominee formerly served as the minister of unification and led the standing committee of South Korea's National Security Council. President Lee described him as a figure capable of seeking a breakthrough from the strained relationship between the two Koreas.
Before the liberal president's final approval, the nominations of Kim Min-seok and Lee Jong-seok would require a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, whose majority of seats are held by the major liberal party.
Three-term Democratic Party lawmaker Rep. Kang Hoon-sik, 51, was tapped as the presidential chief of staff. Lee's office also stated that Kang became the first chief of staff to have been born in 1970 or later, which would allow the Lee administration to add speed to its handling of state affairs. Before the nomination, Kang has represented the Asan-B constituency in South Chungcheong Province since 2016.
Rep. Wi Sung-lac of the Democratic Party was picked as the national security adviser for the liberal president. Wi was formerly the South Korean ambassador to Russia. Lee's office said Wi played a crucial role in crafting Lee's campaign pledges on foreign affairs and national security.
Both Kang and Wi were to lose their positions as members of the National Assembly.
Lee also named Rep. Kang Yu-jung as the presidential spokesperson, and tapped Hwang In-kwon, a former four-star army general, as the new leader of the presidential bodyguards.
President Lee told reporters that all the figures he nominated are not only loyal, but also competent, adding that these two personality traits would be the barometer for his future nominations.
The president also said during the briefing he would not rush to nominate ministers related to South Korea's economy and industry, or carry out an overhaul of the organization of the presidential office.
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