Announcement of appointments for Deputy Minister-level positions including the head of the Legislation Agency, emphasizing practical experience and professionalism.

Announcement of appointments for vice-ministerial level positions, including the Minister of Legislation

On July 13, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung officially announced the appointment of 12 vice-minister level officials. This appointment is a measure to reorganize the practical workforce that will form the substantial driving force of government operations, following the ministerial level appointments. The recent appointments were composed mainly of internal personnel with extensive practical experience, aiming to systematically promote the key tasks of each ministry, and are characterized by a reflection of both expertise and diversity. Notably, the engagement of individuals with direct experience accumulated in policy fields is seen as a reflection of the government's commitment to strengthening the implementation of national tasks and ensuring the continuity of administration.

Consistent philosophy of practical-based personnel management

The most notable aspect of the appointments at the vice-ministerial level in the Lee Jae-myung government is that they are centered around personnel with practical experience. Bureaucrats who have served as mid-level leaders such as directors, planning officers, and department heads in various ministries have been promoted to vice-ministerial positions. This appointment structure is based on a high level of understanding of the policy direction and administrative flow of the ministries. Choi Eun-ok, appointed as the vice-minister of education, previously served as the director of the Higher Education Policy Bureau, where she designed comprehensive mid- to long-term education policies, including the reform of the college entrance system and the nurturing of local universities. With a deep understanding of the roles of universities, local communities, and higher education, and extensive experience in policy coordination within the ministry, she is expected to drive educational reform tasks steadily. Gu Hyuk-chae, the first vice-minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, has overseen the national R&D budget and talent policy as the head of the Planning and Coordination Office. Having held major positions such as the director of the Science and Technology Policy Bureau and the director of the Future Talent Policy Bureau, he is equipped with the capability to design and execute specific policies to implement science and technology-based national strategies. Noh Yong-seok, the vice-minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is a bureaucrat well-versed in policies supporting small businesses and micro-enterprises, coming from the position of the director of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Policy Bureau. He is evaluated as a suitable candidate who can simultaneously enhance the consistency and drive of the ministry's policies, and is expected to take an actionable approach in policies related to startup ecosystems and venture promotion. Kang Hee-eob, appointed as the second vice-minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has led the practical establishment of a metropolitan transportation network centered around the capital region as the chairman of the Metropolitan Area Transport Committee. Based on his practical experience in responding to transportation demand and infrastructure maintenance, he is expected to play a significant role in promoting policies centered on public transportation. Kang Joo-yeop, the head of the Happy Center Complex City Construction Agency, is a current deputy head with practical experience in urban planning and the development of administrative cities. He is garnering expectations for increasing the stability and efficiency of the happy city construction project from an organizational operation standpoint.

Strategic personnel that values expertise and field experience

The Lee Jae-myung government aims for appointments based not only on practical skills but also on specialized expertise and policy implementation capabilities. A representative example of this is the placement of outstanding professionals from academia, health, science and technology, and law. Jo Won-cheol, appointed as the head of the Legal Affairs Office, has served as a judge for 26 years and has since focused on public litigation and legislative interpretation as a lawyer. He has extensive experience in civil and criminal trials and can be viewed as an appointment that reflects the government's emphasis on the practicality and logic of legislation, as he holds a Ph.D. in law from Seoul National University. Lim Seung-kwan, appointed as the head of the Disease Control Agency, has led the Central Infectious Disease Hospital establishment task force at the National Medical Center and is an infectious disease expert who has taken a leading role in planning and executing responses to infectious disease crises. He is expected to bring practical knowledge and crisis response experience in the enhancement of the infectious disease crisis management system and the improvement of the medical response system. Park In-kyu, who has been appointed as the head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters, is a distinguished professor of physics at the University of Seoul and has been engaged in basic science research for an extended period. Rarely among those from academia, he understands science and technology policies and budgeting systems and is capable of contributing to the development of science and technology-based policies for the organic operation of the national R&D system and talent cultivation system. Heo Min, head of the National Heritage Administration, is a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Chonnam National University and possesses both theoretical foundations and practical policy experience in natural and cultural heritage preservation policies. He has practically participated in national heritage conservation policies related to the designation of Global Geoparks, and there are high expectations for his professional leadership that aligns with the establishment purpose of the National Heritage Administration.

Composition reflecting the balance of region and gender

This appointment reflects a balanced approach in terms of regional allocation and gender diversity. Following the maintenance of regional representation from areas such as Yeongnam, Honam, Chungcheong, and the metropolitan area in cabinet-level appointments, there has also been a consistent placement of officials from various regions at the vice-ministerial level. This indicates a commitment to building a nationwide administrative system without regional bias. There are also notable changes regarding gender diversity. Hong So-young, appointed as the Commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, has been recorded as the first female commissioner in the agency's history. Having served in key positions within the agency, including as the head of the Daejeon-Chungnam Military Manpower Administration, she possesses exceptional practical understanding in the fields of military resource management and military administration. This also symbolizes internal promotion and female leadership. Kang Yoon-jin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, also comes from a background as a liaison officer for veterans' organizations and has experience as the first female secretary and director of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. She has a deep understanding of coordination with veterans' groups and policies regarding the recognition of veterans, and her appointment raises expectations for expanding perspectives based on gender in policy management. Among the total of 12 appointments, 3 are women, accounting for about 25%, which is comparable to the female representation rate at the cabinet level (30%). Notably, the placement of female leaders within the Military Manpower Administration and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, organizations previously perceived as male-centered, can be seen as an effort by the government to enhance diversity and flexibility throughout the administration.

Establishing a stable foundation for the government operation system

This appointment is significant as it lays the groundwork for the governance strategy pursued by the Lee Jae-myung administration. By positioning individuals with practical experience and policy expertise in key ministries, the intention to strengthen the continuity of administration and the implementation capacity of policies becomes clear. Looking at the backgrounds of the appointees, most come from the core practical lines within their ministries, sharing a common understanding of existing policy flows and a high adaptability to the organizational culture of their departments. This can be seen as reflecting a governance principle that prioritizes consistency and momentum in policy over change. Additionally, the emphasis on expertise and field experience can be interpreted as a strategy to enhance the government's problem-solving capabilities in response to increasingly complex and diverse social issues. By placing experts who have directly dealt with multifaceted challenges such as infectious diseases, urban traffic, research and development, and military service at the forefront, the direction aims to simultaneously secure expertise and the coherence of policy execution.

Conclusion: A Human Resource Strategy that Values Practicality and Execution

The recent appointment of vice-ministerial level officials in the Lee Jae-myung administration strikes a balance among four directions: practical grounding, strengthening expertise, ensuring organizational stability, and securing diversity. The governing philosophy reflected in the ministerial appointments has been consistently applied at the vice-ministerial level, revealing an intention to establish a practical governance execution system. The 12 appointed individuals possess deep practical experience and expertise in their respective fields, sharing a common characteristic of being able to respond flexibly to the continuity and change of policies. This appointment can be evaluated not merely as a personnel arrangement, but as a reorganization of a practical governance system centered around policy implementation capabilities. The overall operational performance of the government will depend on how these individuals address governance tasks in the field. This appointment serves as a practical starting point and will be a benchmark for assessing policy realization and the actual driving force of national governance.