Korea’s Yoon mulling replacing unification, industry ministers: sources

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Bang Moon-kyu, minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination [Photo by MK DB]

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is mulling replacing the unification and industry ministers in a small-scale reshuffle this week, as well as naming the new chairmen of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) and the Korean Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC).

Lee In-ho, chairman and president of Korea Trade Insurance Corp., and Bang Moon-kyu, minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, are deemed as strong candidates for the position of industry minister and both of them have gone through the personnel verification process, according to multiple sources from the ruling circle.

Lee served as vice minister of Trade, Industry and Energy after graduating from Seoul National University with a degree in economics. He entered public service through the 31st civil service examination and has held various positions in the ministry. Bang graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in English and entered public service through the 28th civil service examination, starting his career at the National Tax Service. He mainly worked in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, where he served as second vice minister. Both were born in 1962 and are experts in policy and administration. They also went through master‘s programs at Harvard Kennedy School.

However, there is also a sentiment that it is difficult to determine the replacement of the minister of industry until Yoon makes the appointment, the sources said.

Kim Young-ho, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University and the chief of an advisory committee designed to lay out a new vision on unification, is being considered as the most likely successor to Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, according to the sources. Kwon, a longtime politician, reportedly voiced his willingness to return to the ruling party in a bid to run for next year‘s general elections.

There has also been speculation about replacing the minister of foreign affairs, but it will likely be excluded from this reshuffle as a suitable replacement has not been found. Lee Dong-kwan, special adviser for external relations at the presidential office, is certain to be nominated for the post vacated by the dismissal of former KCC Chairman Han Sang-hyuk. Kim Hong-Il, a senior counsel at Shin & Kim LLC and a former prosecutor, is practically nominated for the position of chairman of the ACRC, which will be vacated when Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee’s term ends at the end of June.

If this is the case, there is a high possibility that at least four ministers and about 10 vice ministers will be replaced. In particular, many of the secretaries who have been working closely with Yoon since before his inauguration are expected to be appointed to vice minister-level positions. This means that the ministries will be filled with people who better understand and implement Yoon’s philosophy in the second year of his administration. Yoon, who has just returned from a trip to France and Vietnam, is expected to announce ministerial and vice-ministerial appointments as early as this week.