President Lee Appoints Former Ambassador to Japan Kang Changil as Senior Vice Chairman of the National Unification Advisory Council
by Lim Chulyoung
Published 16 Apr.2026 13:59(KST)
Updated 16 Apr.2026 15:15(KST)
"A National Elder Who Has Promoted Peace and Cooperation Beyond Political Factions"
Kim Guiok Appointed as Standing Committee Member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Changhoon Lee Commissioned as Chairman of the National Climate Crisis Res
On April 16, President Lee Jaemyung appointed Changil Kang, former Ambassador to Japan, as Senior Vice Chairman of the Advisory Council of the National Unification Advisory Council, and Kim Guiok, Professor at Hansung University, as Standing Member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Changil Kang, Senior Vice Chairman of the Advisory Council of the National Unification Advisory Council
원본보기 아이콘At a briefing held at the Chunchugwan of the presidential office in the afternoon, Lee Guyoun, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Communication, announced, “Today, President Lee appointed or commissioned one member of the presidential advisory council, one vice minister-level political appointee, and three members of government committees.”
First, Changil Kang, former Ambassador to Japan, was appointed as Senior Vice Chairman of the Advisory Council of the National Unification Advisory Council. This position was previously held by former Prime Minister Lee Haechan, who passed away in January. Secretary Lee introduced Vice Chairman Kang as "a four-term National Assembly member and historian" and described him as "a senior statesman who has promoted peace and cooperation across party lines, based on a deep understanding of Korea's modern history." Lee further explained, "He is the right person to lead the value of integration in the discourse on unification, having accumulated diplomatic insight through his roles as Chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians’ Union and Ambassador to Japan."
Kim Guiok, Professor at Hansung University, was appointed as Standing Member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Secretary Lee described Professor Kim as "a historical sociologist who served as President of the Korean Oral History Association and Executive Director of the Korean Sociological Association," adding, "She is the right person for the field of historical reconciliation, having investigated the substantive truth behind civilian sacrifices and separated families during the Korean War, as well as state violence against the vulnerable."
Changhoon Lee, Distinguished Professor at the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Seoul National University, was commissioned as Chairman of the National Climate Crisis Response Committee. Secretary Lee stated, "He is an expert in the environment and energy sectors, having served as President of the Korea Environment Institute and as a member of the Central Environmental Policy Committee," adding, "He has extensive theoretical and policy work experience." Lee also noted that he is "an expert who will lead the major transformation of national crisis policy encompassing climate, energy, and society."
Jino Kim, former President of CBS, was commissioned as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy. Secretary Lee said, "He worked in the media for 35 years, leading birthrate campaigns and population forums," and added, "With his long experience as a journalist, he is the right person to foster national consensus and shift public awareness across society to overcome the population crisis."
Jinkyung Park, Secretary General of the Work and Leisure Culture Research Institute, was commissioned as Standing Member of the Low Fertility and Aging Society Commission. Secretary Lee explained, "While serving as Secretary General of the Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy, she presented various policy tasks such as childcare, education, and women's employment," and added, "She is the right person to develop comprehensive and structural measures to address the low birthrate issue."
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