[Profile] Yoon Government's First Minister of Industry... 'Top Civil Service Exam' Lee Chang-yang Appointed

Lee Chang-yang, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), nominated as the first Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Professor Chang-yang Lee of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has been nominated as the first Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

Lee, a native of Goseong, Gyeongnam, graduated from Masan High School and Seoul National University with a degree in Political Science. He earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy and a Ph.D. in Technological Innovation Economics from Harvard University. After passing the 29th Administrative Examination in 1985 as the top candidate, he served in government positions for 15 years until 1999, including Administrative Officer at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Director of Industrial Policy at the Ministry of Industry and Resources.

Since 2000, he has been a professor in the Department of Management Engineering at the Graduate School of Techno Management at KAIST. He is particularly renowned in the field of technological innovation economics. In 2017, he served as a member of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s New Industry Public-Private Council, a non-standing economic advisor to the minister, and the inaugural chairman of the Financial Services Commission’s New Growth Committee. Beyond government and academia, he has industry experience as an outside director at SK Hynix from 2012 to 2018 and at LG Display since 2019, making him a well-suited candidate to design the new administration’s industrial policies.

Starting with his doctoral dissertation titled “Theoretical Determinants of R&D Investment,” Lee has consistently researched human resources and technological investment methods related to research and development (R&D) aimed at improving corporate productivity.

His first task is expected to be the formulation of energy policies aligned with the new government’s pledges. President-elect Yoon has emphasized scrapping the nuclear phase-out policy and restoring nuclear power as a base-load energy source. Lee is likely to swiftly establish a concrete portfolio to address issues such as the early resumption of construction for Shin Hanul Units 3 and 4 and the extension of the design life of Kori Unit 2.

Having worked alongside Han Duck-soo, the nominee for Prime Minister and a former Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy official, efficient decision-making on major trade issues is also anticipated. Within the ministry, there is growing expectation that with the appointments of Prime Minister nominee Han and Lee, the trade sector will remain under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Key trade matters to be addressed include the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), for which the application is expected to be submitted this month, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which the United States will announce next month.

The ministry also expects Lee to focus on drafting practical industrial policies, including job creation and the elimination of unnecessary regulations for businesses.

However, Lee’s past media contribution advocating for a “childbirth avoidance penalty” has recently sparked controversy, and rigorous scrutiny is expected during the upcoming confirmation hearings. In his article, he argued that “from an economic perspective, introducing a penalty for those who have the economic means but avoid childbirth could be a meaningful policy alternative.”

▲ Goseong, Gyeongnam (age 60) ▲ Masan High School ▲ Bachelor’s in Economics and Master’s in Political Science from Seoul National University ▲ Master’s in Public Administration and Ph.D. in Policy Studies from Harvard Kennedy School ▲ Passed 29th Administrative Examination ▲ Administrative Officer at Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Secretary at Ministry of Trade and Industry, Secretary to Minister of Commerce and Industry ▲ Presidential Emergency Economic Measures Expert Committee Member (Corporate Restructuring Policy) ▲ Director of Industrial Policy at Ministry of Industry and Resources ▲ Professor at KAIST Graduate School of Techno Management, Department of Management Engineering ▲ Public Enterprise Management Evaluation Committee Member ▲ Outside Director at SK Hynix ▲ Member of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy New Industry Public-Private Council and Non-standing Economic Advisor to Minister ▲ Inaugural Chairman of Financial Services Commission New Growth Committee ▲ Outside Director and ESG Committee Chair at LG Display

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.