(from left, below row) Vice Minister Lee Jae-ouk of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs,; Vice Minister Kim Kang-lim of the Ministry of Health and Welfare,; 2nd Vice Minister Kim Kyung-wook, head of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport,; and Vice Chairman Sohn Byung-doo of the Financial Services Commission (FSC).

President Moon Jae-in, in his 3rd year in office, carried out a reshuffle by replacing nine vice ministers on May 23, a move to bring about tangible outcomes by implementing state tasks in a steady fashion.

Most of the replacements are seasoned bureaucrats, except newly appointed Kim Sung-soo, head of the Science, Technology and Innovation Office at the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT),. The latest personnel change may be interpreted as part of efforts to get state agendas across the finishing line by promoting those who are up to speed on the philosophical leanings of the President Moon government.

The latest reshuffle came about five months after a massive reshuffle, made on last Dec. 14, which affected 16 vice minister-level officials.

It is extraordinary that all national defense and security-related vice ministers of the Foreign Affairs, Unification, and National Defense ministries have been replaced in the latest reshuffle. The step to replace first-generation officials in charge of a rapid peace-building process may be construed as a signal to give a fresh lease of life in the stalemated process on the denuclearization of North Korea.

Chancellor Cho Sei-young of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) was appointed 1st vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is one of the seasoned diplomats versed in Japanese affairs. Cho had three stints with the Korean Embassy in Japan, and he headed the Northeast Asia Bureau of the ministry. He also served as a professor at Dongseo University in Busan and chief of the school’s Japan study center.

Suh Ho, presidential secretary for unification policy, was appointed to be vice minister of the Ministry of Unification. He is a veteran bureaucrat on North Korea affairs and inter-Korean relations.

Deputy Vice Minister Park Jae-min, head of the Military Force and Resources Management Office at the Ministry of National Defense (MND), was promoted to MND vice minister.

The President Moon government opted for stability and reform at the reshuffle of vice ministers of economy-related ministries. Secretary General Sohn Byung-doo of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) was promoted to FSC vice chairman. New FSC Vice Chairman Sohn passed the 33rd higher administrative examination in 1986.

Sohn is a seasoned expert in economic policies, financial policies, and international exchanges. He worked with the office of presidential chief economic secretary of the participatory government, director in charge of foreign exchange and fund at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), and director with the International Finance Department at the MOEF, and head of the G20 Planning and Coordination Corps.

Deputy Minister Kim Kyung-wook, head of the Planning and Coordination Office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), was promoted to vice minister of the ministry. Kim is a seasoned bureaucrat versed in transportation and logistics sectors. He had been credited with averting a recent general strike by trade unions across the nation.

Deputy Minister Lee Jae-ouk in charge of planning and coordination at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) was promoted to MAFRA vice minister. New MAFRA Vice Minister Lee is a renowned expert since he has been with the agriculture, food and rural affairs field for nearly 30 years.

Lee, born in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, graduated from Andong Agricultural High School, Seoul National University Agricultural Education Department and University of Aberdeen Economics Department. President Kim Sung-soo of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology was appointed to be head of the Science, Technology and Innovation Office at the MSIT.

Deputy Minister Kim Kang-lim of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) in charge of planning and coordination was promoted to MOHW vice minister while Kim Kye-jo, head of the Office of National Disaster and Safety Status Control Center was promoted to vice minister for disaster and safety management.