Six ministers replaced as President Yoon reshuffles Cabinet

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Six ministers replaced as President Yoon reshuffles Cabinet

Published: 04 Dec. 2023, 15:06 Updated: 04 Dec. 2023, 16:29

SARAH KIM
kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr

Presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki, left, announces a Cabinet reshuffle in a press briefing at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Monday, and the six new minister candidates, standing to the right, listen. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol replaced six ministers, including those heading the finance, land and veterans ministries, in a Cabinet reshuffle Monday.

Choi Sang-mok, former senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, was tapped to replace Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho, presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki announced in a press briefing. The finance minister doubles as deputy prime minister.

Kang Jung-ai, former president of Sookmyung Women's University, was tapped to replace Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Min-shik.

Park Sang-woo, former CEO of the state-run land developer Korea Land & Housing Corp., was named to replace Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong.

Second Vice Foreign Minister Oh Young-ju was named as the new minister of SMEs and startups to replace Lee Young.

Song Mi-ryung, a senior researcher at the Korea Rural Economic Institute, was named as minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs to replace Chung Hwang-keun.

Kang Do-hyung, president of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, was tapped as the new oceans and fisheries minister to replace Cho Seung-hwan.

Yoon was expected to replace around 10 out of 19 Cabinet members this week as several ministers are reportedly vying for next April's general elections.

Despite expectations that the justice or foreign affairs ministers could be replaced, they were not included in this batch of announcements. However, further appointments could come later on.

From left, minister candidates Choi Sang-mok, Kang Jung-ai, Song Mi-ryung, Oh Young-ju, Park Sang-woo and Kang Do-hyung stand as presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki announces a Cabinet reshuffle in a press briefing at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Monday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]