President appoints economic growth secretary as new policy chief

President Lee Jae Myung has selected Ha Joon-kyung, a senior presidential secretary for economic growth, as his new policy chief, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Ha, an economist with a background in the presidential office since the Lee administration began, will now oversee a wider array of economic and social policies. This appointment comes after Ha's predecessor, Kim Yong-beom, resigned last month due to controversy surrounding high-risk single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds and other economically contentious policies.

Ha's new role was confirmed by public relations spokesperson Seong Ghi-hong, who praised Ha for his expertise in promoting balanced growth and efforts to reduce societal division. Moon Shin-hak, Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, has been appointed to replace Ha as senior presidential secretary for economic growth. Additionally, representative Song Young-gil of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who once served as the party's leader, has been designated as a special presidential adviser for peace.