President Lee Nominates Four-Term Lawmaker Park Honggeun as Minister of Planning and Budget, Jongwoo Hwang for Oceans and Fisheries Minister
by Lim Chulyoung
Published 02 Mar.2026 14:55(KST)
Updated 03 Mar.2026 07:03(KST)
Jeong Ilyeon Appointed as Chair of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission;
Song Sanggyo Named to Lead the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Yoon Kwangil and Jeon Hyunjung Nominated for Election Commission Posts
Namgoong Beom, P
On March 2, President Lee Jaemyung nominated, appointed, and commissioned a total of 11 individuals to key government positions, including minister-level political appointees such as those for the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, as well as heads of constitutionally independent agencies and presidential committees. Assemblyman Park Hongkeun was nominated as the inaugural Minister of Strategy and Finance, and by appointing a balanced mix of politicians from both ruling and opposition parties, as well as leaders from the business sector to vice minister-level posts such as the Regulatory Rationalization Committee, President Lee reaffirmed his "pragmatic personnel" policy.
Lee Guyoun, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations and Communications, announced at a briefing on the same day, "President Lee today nominated, appointed, and commissioned four minister-level political appointees, two heads of constitutionally independent agencies, and five members of presidential committees," confirming the appointments.
President Lee nominated Jongwoo Hwang, Chair of International Cooperation at the Korea Maritime Cooperation Center, as nominee for Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. Secretary Lee described Hwang as "a seasoned bureaucrat who has held key posts in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, including Head of Planning and Coordination," and added, "As a Busan native, he is the right person to lead the era of the Arctic shipping route and to successfully establish Busan as a 'marine capital'." This appointment comes 81 days after the position became vacant due to the resignation of former Minister Jeon Jae-soo.
For the position of Minister of Strategy and Finance, Assemblyman Park Hongkeun was nominated. In contrast to the previous nominee Lee Hyehoon, whose nomination was withdrawn amid various allegations, President Lee selected a close aide with whom he has long worked. This comes 36 days after the withdrawal of Lee Hyehoon's nomination on January 25. Secretary Lee described Park as "a four-term lawmaker with experience as Chair of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts and as Chair of the Operations Committee, making him an expert in national fiscal policy." He added, "Park also served as the head of the planning division of the National Policy Planning Committee, outlining the vision for a government of popular sovereignty, and is well suited to lead government budgeting." Park previously served as Chief of Staff for President Lee's 2022 presidential campaign and was one of his key aides as floor leader when President Lee was leader of the Democratic Party.
President Lee appointed Jeong Ilyeon, attorney-at-law, as Chairman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. Secretary Lee said, "He is a seasoned legal professional, having served as chief judge of the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Court and as a presiding judge at the Seoul Central District Court. He is the right person to quickly normalize the commission, resolve public grievances, and realize a society free of corruption."
Sanggyo Song, former Secretary General of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was appointed as Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Past Issues. Secretary Lee stated, "He is a legal expert who has served as a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Korean Bar Association and as a member of the Prosecution Past Affairs Committee. He is the right person to normalize the newly launched third Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which investigates state violence and human rights violations."
For the constitutionally independent National Election Commission, Kwangil Yoon, professor at Sookmyung Women's University, and Hyunjung Jeon, attorney-at-law, were each nominated as commissioners. Secretary Lee said of Yoon, "He is an expert who has researched election system reform and is well suited to ensure fair election management and lead election system reform." Regarding Jeon, Secretary Lee said, "She has served as a judge for more than 20 years, including as a presiding judge at the Seoul Central District Court, and is the right person to enhance the credibility of election management."
For presidential committees, Namgoong Beom, advisor to S1, former Assemblyman Yongjin Park, and Byungtae Lee, honorary professor at KAIST, were commissioned as vice chairmen of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee. Secretary Lee said of Namgoong, "He is a management and finance expert, having worked at Samsung Electronics for over 30 years and later serving as CEO of a security specialist firm." Regarding Park, Secretary Lee said, "He is the right person to identify unreasonable regulations and promote regulatory reform." On Lee, Secretary Lee said, "He is a regulatory reform strategy expert who has engaged in academic and social activities in various fields such as technology entrepreneurship and IT management strategy."
Additionally, Gang Namhun, honorary professor at Hanshin University, was commissioned as Vice Chairman of the Basic Society Committee. Secretary Lee stated, "He is a scholar who has researched economic fundamental rights and social equity, making him the right person to design the direction of basic social policy." Okju Kim, professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine, was commissioned as Chairperson of the National Bioethics Committee. Secretary Lee explained, "She has served as president of the Korean Society for Bioethics and the Korean Society for Medical History, and is the right person to set the direction for bioethics policy."
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