By Yoon Sojung
Photos: Jeon Han

Cheong Wa Dae announced its nominees to lead four government ministries on May 30.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Soo-hyun told journalists at the Chunchugwan press center at Cheong Wa Dae on May 30 that, “President Moon Jae-in has nominated Member of Congress Kim Boo-kyum as minister of the interior, Do Jongwhan as minister of culture, sports and tourism, Member of Congress Kim Hyun-mee as minister of land, infrastructure and transport, and Kim Young-choon as minister of oceans and fisheries.”

In regard to the nominee to be minister of the interior, Kim Boo-kyum, Spokesperson Park said, “The president feels that Kim is the right person to realize the core goals of properly managing state affairs for the new government -- the decentralization of power to local governments, balanced development, national integration -- as he's one of the top experts on decentralization in Korea.”

“He's expected to form a new relationship between the central government and local governments, and create an innovative national administrative system by strengthening the government’s move toward decentralization,” said the presidential spokesperson.

Spokesperson Park introduced Member of Congress Do Jongwhan, the nominee to be minister of culture, sports and tourism, by saying he's a "renowned poet and a lawmaker who has been serving as a lawmaker, taking sides with the people.”

“Do has resisted entrenched interests when it intended to dominate the people, and he never showed reluctance when working with the people,” said the spokesperson. “Cheong Wa Dae hopes that Do can form a new framework for creative and dynamic communities in cultural, artistic and sport circles, and a framework for Korea’s tourism industry."



Regarding the nominee to be minister of land, infrastructure and transport, Member of Congress Kim Hyun-mee, Spokesperson Park said, “Last year, Kim became the first female lawmaker to head the Budget & Accounting Committee at the National Assembly of Korea, where she showed her expertise and political capabilities to pass the budget bill for 2017.”

“As the first female minister of land, infrastructure and transport, she will be able to solve without hesitation the nation's housing issues, especially for regular families, newly-wed couples and youth, and create more jobs through urban restoration and related ‘New Deal Projects,’ and achieve other important tasks at the land ministry,” said the presidential spokesperson.

Spokesperson Park explained the background of the nominee to be minister of oceans and fisheries by saying that, “Kim Young-choon is a three-term lawmaker who has been serving as the chair of the Agriculture, Forestry, Maritime Affairs & Fisheries Committee at the National Assembly of Korea."

“Kim is the most appropriate person to deal with the ministry’s main tasks, such as reviving the shipping industry, which is currently facing a crisis, protecting the fishing industry against a worsening environment, reinvestigating the reasons behind the sinking of the Sewol ferry, and related goals,” said the spokesperson.

arete@korea.kr