Seoul: South Korea is poised to have its first female prime minister in 20 years. South Korean leaders have nominated the Minister of SMEs and Startups to be the new prime minister. If confirmed by parliament, she would make history as the country's first female prime minister in 20 years.
According to Thai News Agency, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has nominated Han Seong-sook, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, to be the new Prime Minister. If confirmed by parliament, she will make history as the first female Prime Minister in 20 years and the second woman in the country's history to hold this position, after Han Myung-sook who served from 2006-2007.
The presidential office stated that 58-year-old Han Sung-suk will be a key figure in South Korea's economic and social transformation into the era of artificial intelligence. The government expects her to channel the booming semiconductor and export industries into a more equitable distribution of income to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Before becoming a minister, Han Seong-suk made history as the first female CEO of Naver Corp., managing South Korea's largest internet portal and digital service, which led to her being ranked among Fortune magazine's most influential people in Asia. After entering politics as Minister of SMEs and Startups, she received widespread acclaim for her digital policies, leveraging AI technology to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and creating a thriving ecosystem that aligns with President Lee's economic vision.
Although the South Korean prime ministership largely focuses on administrative and ceremonial duties under the presidential system, Han Sung-suk still needs to undergo a qualification review and obtain approval from parliament, which is expected to pass without difficulty given the ruling party's majority.
This cabinet reshuffle comes on the first anniversary of President Lee Jae-myung's term and follows the ruling party's landslide victory in last week's local elections.