By Yoon Sojung

President Moon Jae-in nominated ministers at four ministries on June 13: the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the Ministry of Unification. He also appointed vice minister-level officials at four government organizations.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Soo-hyun told reporters at the Chunchugwan Press Center at Cheong Wa Dae that the former head of the POSCO Research Institute, You Young-min, was named as minister of science, ICT and future planning, and that the former senior presidential secretary on security policy, Cho Myoung-gyon, was named as minister of unification. The presidential spokesperson also said that former Member of Congress Kim Yung-rok was nominated to be the minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, and that Sungkyunkwan University history professor Chung Hyun-back was named to be the minister of gender equality and family.

Regarding the nominee at the science ministry, the presidential spokesperson said, "You Young-min is the right person to successfully carry out the core tasks at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning in order to secure economic growth engines for the Republic of Korea."

The Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson then told journalists about the government's nominee at the unification ministry. "Cho Myoung-gyon will skillfully carry out the main tasks of the Ministry of Unification, which includes denuclearization and the establishment of peaceful regimes across the Korean Peninsula, shaping a new economic map for the Korean Peninsula, and setting the basic direction of inter-Korean relations for the new government."

Regarding the nominee for agriculture minister, Kim Yung-rok, the presidential spokesperson said, "Kim is the most appropriate person to resolve pending issues that farmers and fishers face, such as the rice supply, chronic issues surrounding avian influenza and foot and mouth disease, and famine, all in order to bolster the competitiveness of the Korean agricultural and livestock industries."

Spokesperson Park introduced the nominee for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family by saying, "Chung will be able to create an environment where women can work comfortably. She will strengthen support for teenagers so that they can grow safely and healthily without delay."

Following these nominations, Cheong Wa Dae announced the appointment of Kim Hyun-soo, the incumbent deputy minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, as vice minister at that ministry, and Lee In-ho, the incumbent deputy minister for policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as the new first vice minister at that ministry.

arete@korea.kr