Early Personnel Trends of the Lee Jae-myung Government

Current Status of Ministerial Candidates for Major Ministries

Kim Min-seok, who has been nominated as the Prime Minister candidate, is 61 years old and has actively served as a four-term lawmaker in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. He has established himself as a prominent strategist within the Democratic Party and has a background as a former president of the Seoul National University Student Council, representing the '86 generation' movement. During the presidential election, he served as the head of the strategic planning headquarters of the election campaign committee and is considered to have maintained a close relationship with lawmaker Lee Jae-myung. In last year's party convention, he acted as the senior highest member and solidified his cooperative relationship with the elected candidate Lee Jae-myung. Currently, there has been no official announcement regarding the Minister of Foreign Affairs candidate, and lawmaker Wi Seong-rok is being strongly mentioned as a candidate for the National Security Office Director. The candidate for the Minister of Strategy and Finance has also not been announced, as discussions are ongoing regarding the restructuring of budget functions in line with the elected candidate's pledges. For these reasons, the announcement of ministerial candidates is expected to be somewhat delayed.

Current Status of Presidential Office Staff Appointments

The President's Chief of Staff has been appointed as Congressman Kang Hoon-sik. He is a three-term politician from Asan, South Chungcheong Province, and is regarded as a capable pragmatist, having served as the head of the comprehensive situation room during the election camp. Lee Han-joo, head of the Democratic Research Institute, has been designated as the chief policy officer. He has served as the head of the Gyeonggi Research Institute and the Democratic Research Institute and is expected to oversee planning for key policies of the elected candidate, including basic income. Additionally, it is reported that Congressman Wi Sung-lak, who is from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a strong candidate for the National Security Office. He has experience as the ambassador to Russia and has demonstrated expertise in foreign affairs and security. Former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok is highly likely to be appointed as the head of the National Intelligence Service, while former Congressman Kim Byung-wook is being prominently discussed as a candidate for Chief of Staff for Political Affairs. Lastly, attorney Oh Kwang-soo is being considered for the Chief of Civil Affairs, known as an expert in prosecutorial reform.

Media Evaluation and Analysis

The recent appointments are largely characterized by an emphasis on proximity and capability. Elected official Lee Jae-myung is appropriately utilizing personnel who possess loyalty and competence, with reports indicating a focus on "fair appointments." The cases of Kim Min-seok, Kang Hoon-sik, and Lee Han-joo exemplify this point well. However, some media outlets have analyzed the exclusion of pro-Lee figures, suggesting a tendency towards appointments that prioritize cooperation. This has led to calls for personnel that transcend factions, emphasizing the need for individuals from diverse backgrounds to be appointed. Criticism has also been directed at the pace of practical implementation, and the potential for uncomfortable cohabitation with current government ministers has been raised. It has been reported that this elected official is considering retaining current officials for minister-level positions until the end of June.

Announcement schedule and future plans

On June 4, the elected Lee Jae-myung is expected to start the personnel appointments immediately after his inauguration. Key aides, including the Prime Minister candidate and the Chief of Staff, will be announced first. From mid-June to the end of the month, preparations and procedures for the confirmation hearings of ministerial candidates will take place. For ministerial appointments requiring confirmation, there will be significant consideration for the retention of current officials, while for deputy minister appointments that do not require hearings, a swift appointment procedure is planned. Subsequently, appointments for foreign affairs and economic ministers will be announced sequentially, and a prompt confirmation process is requested to minimize gaps in government operations.