Lee nominates 6 ministers in Cabinet reshuffle

President Lee Jae Myung announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, appointing six new ministers to key posts. The presidential Chief of Staff, Kang Hoon-sik, stated that the president nominated Lee Hyoung-il to serve as deputy prime minister for economic affairs and the new minister of economy and finance. Lee Hyoung-il, born in 1971, is a seasoned career bureaucrat with extensive experience in both domestic and international economics.

He has worked as a senior economist at the World Bank and as Commissioner of Statistics Korea since joining the finance ministry in 1993. Prior to his appointment as deputy prime minister, Lee Hyoung-il had been serving as first vice minister of economy and finance since June 2025.

Adding to the reshuffle, Lee also appointed Kang Shin-chul as defense minister. Kang Shin-chul, born in 1968, is a former deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command. He has built his career in the military, making him a notable addition to the defense ministry.

Finally, Rep. Kim Seung-won of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea was chosen as the new justice minister. Kim Seung-won was born in 1968 and has been actively involved in politics, bringing a fresh perspective to the justice ministry.