South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday nominated Han Seong-sook as the country’s next prime minister, a move that would make her only the second woman in South Korea’s history to hold the post if approved by parliament.
Han, who currently serves as minister for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups, was selected as the government seeks to address economic challenges and navigate a rapidly changing global environment shaped by technological advances and geopolitical uncertainty.
The nomination comes shortly after the ruling Democratic Party secured a strong performance in local elections, although it lost the closely watched Seoul mayoral race to the opposition. The elections were also overshadowed by controversy over ballot shortages at dozens of polling stations, leading to the resignation of the head of the national election commission.
Announcing the decision, Lee’s chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, said the president believed Han was best suited to oversee economic growth and improve public welfare at a time when South Korea faces significant changes driven by artificial intelligence and complex global crises.
Han’s confirmation is widely expected, as the ruling Democratic Party holds a majority in the 300-seat National Assembly. Unless serious ethical concerns or political controversies emerge during the confirmation process, parliamentary approval is considered likely.
If confirmed, the 58-year-old would become the first woman to serve as South Korea’s prime minister in nearly 20 years. The only other woman to hold the position was Han Myeong-sook, who served from 2006 to 2007.
Meanwhile, outgoing Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is expected to seek the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party, potentially setting the stage for a significant reshuffle within the country’s political leadership.
