Korea’s President Yoon appoints new second vice industry minister

Kang Kyung-sung, the new second vice minister for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy [Photo by Yonhap]

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday appointed his secretary for industrial policy Kang Kyung-sung to be the new second vice minister for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Kang had worked at Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. after graduating from Sudo Electric Technical High. While working at KHNP, he studied at the University of Ulsan majoring in electrical engineering and passed the national technical qualification examination. After entering public office, he served in various key positions in the energy sector at the industry ministry.

In May last year, he was picked as Yoon’s industry policy secretary and has since led economic events when the president was on overseas trips. In November last year, he personally met two miners who were rescued after being trapped underground in a mine accident in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province to deliver a message from Yoon. Kang’s father was a miner.

Given that his predecessor, former Second Vice Minister Park Il-jun, has been in charge of energy-related policies, some government insiders speculate that Kang’s appointment may have come as a reprimand for the delayed electricity rate hikes. With the appointment, Park Sung-taek, a policy coordinating secretary, will reportedly serve as the new secretary for industrial policy.