President Lee Appoints Hyun Suyeop as First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare and Lee Jongwook as Commissioner of Korea Customs Service

A Working Mother of Four Appointed First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare
"The Right Person to Build a Comprehensive Social Safety Net"

On May 15, President Lee Jaemyung appointed Hyun Suyeob, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as the First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare. Lee Jonguk, Deputy Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, was appointed as the new Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, and Moon Sungyo, former Director General for Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, was appointed as the Commissioner of the Saemangeum Development Authority.

Lee Guyoun, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations and Communications, announced at an afternoon briefing at the Chunchugwan on the same day that President Lee had appointed three vice-ministerial-level officials and either appointed or designated three government committee members.

Yonhap News Agency

Vice Minister Hyun is a career official who has held key positions at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, including Director General for Population and Child Policy and Director of Childcare Policy. Senior Secretary Lee stated, "As a working mother raising four children, she has made significant contributions to improving the treatment of childcare workers and introducing extended childcare at daycare centers," adding, "She is highly qualified to establish a robust social safety net that encompasses both welfare and health."

Commissioner Lee is also a career official who has held key positions at the Korea Customs Service, including Director General for Planning and Coordination. He was recognized for uncovering large-scale illegal bypass exports and, in cooperation with the Thai government, successfully cracking down on large quantities of narcotics. Senior Secretary Lee remarked, "He is the right person to stably support the trade and investment activities of our companies and to prevent illegal customs clearance activities that threaten public safety."

Commissioner Moon has built up his career in the field of national land and urban development, including establishing the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) Master Plan. Senior Secretary Lee stated, "We expect him to play a significant role in enabling Saemangeum to emerge as a hub for future high-tech industries such as robotics, hydrogen, and artificial intelligence (AI)."

In addition, Hong Miyeong, former National Assembly member, was appointed as Chairperson of the National Commission on Sustainable Development, and Kim Kiyoung, Professor of Library and Information Science at Yonsei University, was appointed as Chairperson of the National Library Committee. Paek Jongwoo, Professor of Psychiatry at Kyung Hee University, was designated as Vice Chairperson of the National Life and Safety Committee.

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