President Lee Jae Myung stands for a photo with Han Seong-sook after appointing her as minister of SMEs and startups in 2025. Han was tapped to serve as prime minister on June 7, 2026. (Yonhap)
President Lee Jae Myung’s nomination of Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Seong-sook to serve as the next prime minister is seen as reflecting the administration’s intent to project a centrist and pragmatic image and national governance centered on the artificial intelligence transformation, people’s livelihoods and the economy as it heads into its second year in office. After the ruling Democratic Party failed to win last week’s Seoul mayoral election — a result many viewed as falling short of a full mandate — some see Han’s nomination as a strategic ploy to present an image of government reform through a “hands-on” and pragmatic prime minister with a business background rather than a political one.Kang Hoon-sik, the Blue House chief of Staff, explained why Han was the right choice to serve as the next prime minister in a briefing Sunday.“As Minister of SMEs and Startups, she has produced diverse achievements and emphasized speed, results and a hands-on approach,” Kang said. “The consensus is that her eligibility is underpinned by an innovative mindset and commitment to reform that she developed in the private sector, as well as a philosophy of mutual growth based on the belief that everyone must grow together.”The president seems to have high regard for Han’s ability to get things done.
