The president’s picks reflect a need to address public anger over housing policy and unite the broader liberal camp
Kang Hoon-sik, the Blue House chief of staff, gives a briefing on new Cabinet appointments on Aug. 30, 2026. (pool photo)
President Lee Jae Myung replaced six Cabinet ministers Sunday in a reshuffle aimed at revamping his administration amid falling approval ratings, mounting public anger over housing issues and a push to strengthen unity among liberal and progressive factions.“With new leadership armed with dynamism and expertise, we will make practical changes that will be felt by the people,” said Kang Hoon-sik, the Blue House chief of staff, during a press briefing that day. Lee Hyoung-il, 55, the first vice finance minister, was nominated as deputy prime minister for economic affairs and minister of finance and economy, while Democratic Party Rep. Kim Seung-won, 57, was tapped to serve as justice minister. Vice Minister for Transport Hong Jee-sun, 56, was nominated to lead the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, while Kang Shin-chul, a former deputy commander of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command, was nominated as defense minister. The president also chose Rep. Yong Hye-in, 36, of the Basic Income Party to serve as the minister of gender equality and family.“As a young economic policy chief, we expect Lee Hyoung-il to translate record-breaking economic indicators into qualitative improvements in people’s lives and achieve stable growth for our economy,” Kang Hoon-sik noted. Hong, the nominee for minister of land, infrastructure and transport, is the first person selected for the position who passed the higher civil service examination for local public officials. His appointment appears aimed at balancing public concerns over the real estate market with the need for policy expertise. The nominations also appear intended to strengthen unity among liberal and progressive factions while keeping the administration’s traditional supporters in mind. Rep. Lee Hai-min of the Rebuilding Korea Party, a former Google engineer, has been appointed senior secretary for AI future planning. Kim Kyoung-soo, the former governor of South Gyeongsang Province known for his ties to former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in, was appointed as special adviser for political affairs. Notably, lawmakers in their 30s and 40s have been tapped to lead government ministries, as reflected in Yong’s nomination and that of Rep. Lee So-young, 41, a two-term Democratic Party lawmaker, as minister for SMEs and startups. In addition, Ha Jung-woo, 49, the former senior presidential secretary for artificial intelligence affairs, has been nominated as the vice chairperson of the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Lee Won-ju, 55, the director general for energy transition policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, has also been named as the Blue House aide to oversee the three megaprojects centered on semiconductors and AI announced by the administration in June. By Seo Young-ji, staff reporterPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
