[Profile] Moon Sinhak, New Senior Secretary for Economic Growth... A Policy Troubleshooter with Experience in Both Industry and Energy

A Veteran Industry Bureaucrat

Extensive Experience in Semiconductors, Steel, and Nuclear Power

From Vice Minister of Industry to Senior Advisor on Economic Affairs at the Blue House

Soo Hak Moon, Senior Secretary for Economic Growth at the Blue House

On October 1, President Lee Jaemyung appointed Moon Sinhak, Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, as the new Senior Secretary for Economic Growth at the Blue House. As former Senior Secretary Ha Joonkyung moved to the post of policy chief, Vice Minister Moon will now be responsible for coordinating economic and industrial policy directly alongside the President.

The newly appointed Senior Secretary Moon is a veteran public official with extensive experience in both industry and energy. Born in Haenam, Jeollanam-do in 1967, he graduated from Chosun University High School in Gwangju and went on to study economics at Seoul National University before entering public service through the 38th Civil Service Examination.

Within the Ministry of Industry, he has handled key industrial and energy policy areas, including steel, semiconductors, oil, gas, and nuclear power. Early in his career, he worked in the Steel and Metals Division and the Import Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, later serving in the Americas Cooperation Division and Gas Industry Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy. He subsequently held posts as Director of Corporate Cooperation, Director of Semiconductors and Displays, Director of Petroleum Industry, Director General for Industrial Infrastructure, Director of Nuclear Industry Policy, and more. He also has experience working at the Embassy in the United States.

Within the Ministry, he has been regarded as a planning-oriented official, frequently tasked with resolving complex issues. As Director of Corporate Cooperation, he helped lay the foundation for mid-sized company policies; as Director of Semiconductors and Displays, he oversaw key issues in the semiconductor sector. During his time in the Steel and Metals Division in the 1990s, he was involved in steel industry restructuring in the context of the Asian Financial Crisis. After being appointed Vice Minister last year, he again took charge of steel industry restructuring and strengthening manufacturing competitiveness.

He also has deep experience in the energy sector, having served as Director of the Petroleum Industry Division and Director of Nuclear Industry Policy, led the Energy Transition Public Communication Task Force, and held the post of Director General for Nuclear Industry Policy. During the Moon Jae-in administration, he was in charge of energy transition policy and executed related initiatives as Director General for Nuclear Industry Policy. In 2015, as Director of Nuclear Policy, he was involved in addressing regional conflicts related to the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Yeongdeok, North Gyeongsang Province.

He has a history of being investigated and tried for obstruction of an audit related to the shutdown of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. Although he was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the initial trial, he was acquitted on appeal, and the Supreme Court confirmed his acquittal in 2024. At the time, he was also evaluated as earning strong trust within the organization, with many Ministry officials submitting petitions on his behalf.

After serving as Director General for Nuclear Industry Policy, Policy Adviser to the Minister, and Spokesperson following 2017, he left public service before returning in June last year, right after the launch of the Lee Jaemyung government, as the First Vice Minister at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (now the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy). Even after the reorganization that led to the creation of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, he continued to serve as Vice Minister overseeing overall industrial policy.

As Vice Minister, he worked closely with then Senior Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Joonkyung and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hyungil on policies such as electric vehicle industry strategy through various economic affairs meetings. He is therefore regarded as familiar with the policy coordination process between the Blue House and economic ministries.

◆Profile of Moon Sinhak, newly appointed Senior Secretary for Economic Growth at the Blue House

▲Born in Haenam, Jeollanam-do in 1967 ▲Graduated from Chosun University High School, Gwangju ▲Degree in Economics, Seoul National University ▲38th Civil Service Examination ▲Third Secretary at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the United States ▲Director, Gas Industry Division, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy ▲Director, Corporate Cooperation Division, Ministry of Knowledge Economy ▲Director, Semiconductors and Displays ▲Director, Dairy Industry Division ▲Director General for Industrial Infrastructure, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy ▲Director of Nuclear Industry Policy ▲Director General for Nuclear Industry Policy ▲Policy Adviser to the Minister ▲Spokesperson ▲First Vice Minister, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy ▲Vice Minister, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy ▲Senior Secretary for Economic Growth at the Blue House

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