SK President Reorganizes High-Level Government Posts
On Tuesday, President Park Geun Hye of South Korea partially reorganized high-level government posts in an attempt to put in momentum into her presidency for the 18 months left of her term.
Yonhap News reported that Park appointed former Minister of Gender Equality Choo Yoon Sun to be the new head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The CEO of the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. Kim Jae Soo will now serve as the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
Cho Kyung Kyu, the Deputy Chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination under the Prime Minister's Office, was nominated as Environment Minister.
Kim Sung Woo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Affairs of the Park administration said, "Culture Minister nominee Cho has a deep grasp of the culture and arts, and well understands the president's philosophy in running the country. Based on her ample experience both in government and parliamentary affairs, we believe she will contribute to the advancement of tourism, culture, and related areas."
Kim also emphasized that the nominees for the environment and agriculture ministers are experts in policy matters and are equipped with extensive experience in their respective specialties. He also stated that both of them would play a significant role in South Korea's attempts to find future growth engines.
He added, "Agriculture Minister nominee Kim is well fit for the mission to breathe fresh life into the rural economy by fostering the agriculture, livestock, and food sectors into new growth industries. We expect Environment Minister nominee Cho to contribute to smoothly addressing pending environmental issues like climate change and fine dust, and creating future growth dynamos such as an eco-friendly energy town project."
In addition, the president also named four vice-ministerial officials.
Noh Hyeong Ouk, a senior official at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, will replace Cho Kyung Kyu. Park's Secretary for Industry and Trade Affairs, Jeong Man Ki, was named Vice Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy.
The new Vice Chief of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Park Kyeong Ho, is a former senior prosecutor, and Chung Hwang Keun, was designated as the head of the Rural Development Administration. Chung is the Presidential Secretary for Agricultural and Fishery Affairs prior to his new position.