'Managerial' Jeong Seongho or 'Young Blood' Kang Hoon-sik... Next Prime Minister Awaits President Lee's Decision

Lee Administration Speeds Up Second-Year Cabinet Reshuffle... Announcement Likely by Weekend

"Five-Term" Jeong Seongho Known for Strong Leadership; Closest Aide Kang Hoon-sik Represents "1970s Generation" Symbolism

The shortlist for the next Prime Minister to lead President Lee Jaemyung’s cabinet in the second year of his administration has been narrowed down to Jung Sung-ho, Minister of Justice (age 65), and Han Kunsik, Chief Presidential Secretary (age 53). President Lee is expected to make a final decision and announce his nominee as early as this week.

Jung Sung-ho, Minister of Justice. Photo by Yonhap News

According to government and ruling party sources on June 5, President Lee is likely to personally announce the successor to Prime Minister Kim Minseok—who will pass the baton—either as early as today or no later than the end of this weekend. It is reported that during the weekly report with President Lee on June 1, when Chief Secretary Han was away on a business trip, Prime Minister Kim discussed his intention to run for party leadership, effectively signaling his resignation. Subsequently, President Lee held one-on-one meetings with Minister Jung on June 2 and with Chief Secretary Han on June 4, the day after the election.

Currently, the strongest candidate for the next Prime Minister is Minister Jung. This is related to the political situation in which the ruling Democratic Party of Korea lost the Seoul mayoral seat and suffered defeats in highly symbolic regions in the June 3 local elections. Having already undergone a confirmation hearing for his current ministerial post, Jung is considered likely to pass another hearing smoothly and is seen as someone who can strengthen the administration’s grip on state affairs. Observers interpret President Lee’s recent action—personally sharing the news about Minister Jung’s new X (formerly Twitter) account on June 3 and giving him the nickname “Jung Seongho Tiger”—as an endorsement of Jung’s leadership. Jung has already been vetted once as Minister of Justice. As a close confidant of President Lee for 40 years and a classmate from the 18th Judicial Research and Training Institute, he enjoys strong bipartisan trust, which could further stabilize the administration.

Han Kun-sik, Chief Presidential Secretary. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Chief Secretary Han, also under consideration, has been at President Lee’s side since the beginning of the administration, making him one of the most attuned to the president’s philosophy of governance. He has delivered results in the defense and energy sectors and carries the symbolic significance of potentially becoming the first Prime Minister born in the 1970s. With three terms as a National Assembly member, he is also recognized for his keen political instincts. If Chief Secretary Han is appointed as Prime Minister, he is expected to become a major factor in the ruling party’s next presidential race. However, given his strong performance as Chief Presidential Secretary, there remains a possibility that he will continue in his current role.

The presidential office is remaining tight-lipped about the Prime Minister appointment. On this day, Kang Yujeong, Chief Spokesperson of the presidential office, released a statement to the press, saying, “No decision has been made regarding the Prime Minister’s status or personnel matters.”

Depending on who becomes the next Prime Minister, the nature of the Lee Jaemyung administration’s “second phase” could change significantly. With cabinet reshuffles being discussed for ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, appointing Minister Jung as Prime Minister would also necessitate naming a new Minister of Justice. The new Minister of Justice would have to handle key pending issues, including the special prosecutor for fabricated indictments, prosecution reform, and the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the Public Prosecution Agency, so the selection will require careful consideration. In addition, a reshuffle of the presidential aides is expected after the election, with a plan reportedly under review to replace three to four senior staff members, including the vacant Chief of AI Future Planning.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kim intends to remain in office for the time being to minimize any administrative vacuum, as the nomination process and confirmation hearing for the next Prime Minister are still pending.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.