[Briefing] President Lee Appoints Chairman of Regional Era Committee and Eight New Ministers (July 23, 2025)
[Briefing] President Lee Appoints Chairman of Regional Era Committee and Eight New Ministers (July 23, 2025)
📌 Presidential message emphasizes decentralization and public service values
On the morning of July 23, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung hosted an official appointment and commission ceremony at the Presidential Office. During the ceremony, Kim Kyung-soo was appointed as Chairman of the Presidential Regional Era Committee, while eight newly nominated ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, received their formal appointments.
Among the attendees were Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom, key presidential aides, as well as the appointees' spouses and children—adding a familial touch to the solemn occasion.
President Lee remarked, "When civil servants work hard, the people live comfortably," reinforcing the ethical and service-oriented mindset expected from public officials. He emphasized the importance of decentralization and balanced regional development as essential to overcoming the capital-centric structure in South Korea.
🧭 Political context: Toward a decentralized, balanced Korea
President Lee's message to Chairman Kim Kyung-soo signaled his administration's determination to realize a “regional era.” Stressing that fiscal and investment shifts must accompany decentralization, the President reaffirmed his commitment to dismantling the overconcentration in the capital region.
Chairman Kim previously served as governor of South Gyeongsang Province during the Moon administration and is seen as a key figure capable of translating regional development philosophy into institutional action. The Lee administration’s regional agenda includes incentives for corporate relocation, expanded funding for local universities, and continued transfer of central agencies to provincial areas.
🤝 Appointing labor and corporate leaders as ministers
President Lee’s appointments of Kim Young-hoon (Minister of Employment and Labor, formerly Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions) and Bae Kyung-hoon (Minister of Science and ICT, formerly a tech startup CEO) reflect a deliberate shift. He stated, “Entrepreneurs and labor leaders must join Cabinet discussions to shape policy solutions together, not just from the field but in government.”
This approach diverges from the technocratic or bureaucratic norms of previous administrations. By bringing in individuals who represent real stakeholder communities, the President aims to forge direct dialogue and responsive governance through the National Cabinet framework. It’s an attempt to reconcile policy planning with lived realities.
🚨 One minister absent due to U.S. trade negotiations
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan was absent from the ceremony as he departed for the United States to lead trade negotiations. His absence highlights how foreign economic diplomacy is also ramping up alongside domestic political reorganization, signaling a return to full-scale national governance.
📎 More Information
This post is based on content provided by the official briefing from the Office of the President of South Korea.
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