President Yoon narrowly convenes first cabinet meeting and approves 2nd supplementary budget bill
(from left) Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Deputy Prime Minister-MOEF Minister Chu Kyung-ho, Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, Minister Park Jin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Won Hee-ryong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Minster Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup.
(from left) Minster of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik, Minster Chung Hwang-keun of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister Cho Seung-hwan of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Minister Park Bo-Gyoon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Environment Minister Han Hwa-jin, Mister Lee Young of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Minster Nam Sung-hyun of the Korea Forest Service, Administrator Cho Chae-ho of the Rural Development Administration, Commissioner Yoon Tae-sik of the Korea Customs Service, Administrator Lee Jong-wook of the Public Procurement Service.
President Yoon Suk-yeol’s appointment of Han Duck-soo to be prime minister of the new government was approved by the National Assembly on May 20.
The parliament’s approval of Prime Minister Han came 47 days after Han was nominated as prime minister on April 3.
The majority opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DP) was adamantly opposed to Han’s appointment, and other minister nominees, including Justice Minister-designate Han Dong-hoon, a confidant of President Yoon.
The breakthrough came on May 12 as DP changed its position and decided to vote for Han. The following is the timeline of the formation of the first cabinet of the President Yoon government.
President Yoon convened the first cabinet meeting on May 12 and approved a 2nd supplementary budget bill worth 59.4 trillion won.
The budget bill includes 36.4 trillion won, or at least 6 million won for each small businesses, and self-employed businessmen buffeted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cabinet meeting was able to be held with eight ministers in attendance, who were appointed by the president, assisted by two ministers of the past government.
The episode took place even though cabinet was not fully formed with the pending approval of Prime Minister-designate Han.
President Yoon appointed Minister Park Jin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on May 12.
Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang In-sun said the appointments were inevitable due to economic hardships, upcoming Korean-U.S. summit talks and local government elections, to be held on June 1.
Upon his inauguration, President Yoon appointed seven ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister-Minister Chu Kyung-ho of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) to be members of the cabinet on May 10.
As Prime Minister-designate Han was not approved by DP, outgoing Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum recommended to President Yoon the appointment of seven ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister-MOEF Minister Chu, who were approved in parliamentary confirmation hearings.
Among the seven were Minister Lee Jong-ho of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Minister Lee Jeong-sik of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Minister Lee Jong-sup of the Ministry of National Defense, Minister Chung Hwang-keun of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), Minister Han Hwa-jin of the Ministry of Environment, and Minister Cho Seung-hwan of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF).
As Deputy Prime Minister-MOEF Minister Chu took office, he had held government-party meetings to handle urgent pending issues, such as a second supplementary budget bill.
Chu disclosed a plan to inaugurate an in-house emergency economic response task force, stressing need to stabilize prices.
Chu made the remarks at an inauguration ceremony at the Sejong Government Complex on May 11.
He said the new government would devote itself to ensuring macroeconomic risk management by prioritizing public livelihood such as stabilizing of prices.
As MSIT Minister Lee took office on May 11, he revealed detailed goals, including making the nation a top five science and technology power by upgrading R&D policies.
Minister Lee, a seasoned semiconductor veteran, said unmatched core technologies, such as semiconductor, AI, space and bio will be secured as soon as possible.
He said the second launch of 'Nuri-ho,' a Korean standard space rocket, slated for August will be made without interruption.
