[Profile] Oh Young-joo, Candidate for Minister of SMEs and Startups, Expert in Development Cooperation and Former Diplomat

Oh Young-joo, nominated as the Minister of SMEs and Startups, is an expert in the field of development cooperation.

Born in 1964 in Masan, she graduated from Ewha Womans University with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. She passed the 22nd Foreign Service Examination and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1988, following the path of a so-called "traditional diplomat."

She has served as Director General of the Development Cooperation Bureau, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Multilateral Coordination Officer, and Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. In 2014, during the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, she led the government’s emergency relief team dispatch.

When President Yoon was the president-elect, she was dispatched to the Presidential Transition Committee, serving as a specialist in the foreign affairs and security division. Recognized for her expertise in development cooperation, she also served as Ambassador to Vietnam. Vietnam is South Korea’s largest priority partner country for Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects.

Oh Young-joo, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, is expressing her thoughts on the 4th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)

In June, she was appointed as the Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, succeeding Lee Do-hoon. Oh is the first female diplomat from the Foreign Service Examination to serve as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Having served as the Second Vice Minister overseeing economic diplomacy, she was praised for actively supporting the overseas expansion of Korean SMEs.

In this regard, the Presidential Office stated that "based on her many years of experience, she is expected to lead the pioneering of new markets and globalization for SMEs and startups."

Oh said, "I feel a heavy responsibility being nominated as the minister in charge of SMEs, startups, and small business owners, which are the foundation of our economy during a very difficult time for our economy. Throughout my public service career, I have worked with the belief that the answer lies in the field. If appointed after the confirmation process, I will do my best to work diligently and meticulously for the globalization of SMEs."

▲ Born in 1964 in Masan ▲ Ewha Womans University, Political Science and International Relations ▲ 22nd Foreign Service Examination ▲ Director General of Development Cooperation Bureau ▲ Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations ▲ Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs ▲ Multilateral Coordination Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ▲ Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy ▲ Dispatched to the Presidential Transition Committee ▲ Ambassador to Vietnam ▲ Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs

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