President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday appointed Kim Sang-jo as the chief of the Fair Trade Commission against main conservative opposition parties’ resistance, and named four new minister nominees.

Saying Kim is the right person to realize Moon's vision for economic reforms, chief presidential press officer Yoon Young-chan said that Moon has decided to go ahead with Kim’s appointment. 


“The times require a new paradigm of economic democracy. As time cannot be wasted further, Kim Sang-jo is appointed as the Fair Trade Commission chairman,” Yoon said.

“The new chairman’s abilities were proven in the confirmation hearing process. In the eyes of the people, who consider capabilities more important than faults, I dare say that Kim has already passed the vetting process.”

While conservatives have been unyielding in their opposition to Kim, a recent survey showed that more than 60 percent of the public consider him fit for the post.

Yoon went on to say that the new administration stands by its principle of working together with opposition parties, but that the launch of the new government cannot be delayed further.

The Liberty Korea Party has been refusing to approve Kim’s appointment, raising allegations including irregularities in his wife working as an English-language teacher at a state-run school in Seoul in 2013. The main opposition has since filed a criminal complaint against Kim’s wife and the school.

As for the four new nominations, Moon tapped a software engineer for the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning; a former lawmaker and administrator for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; a scholar and activist for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family; and a career civil servant for the Ministry of Unification. 

Following Tuesday’s announcement, nominations for two ministerial positions remain: minister of health and welfare and minister of trade, industry and energy.

To lead the Science Ministry, Moon nominated You Young-min, a software engineer by training, who has headed the Posco Research Institute and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency.

“(You) is the right person for successfully carrying out the ministry’s tasks and for preparing for the fourth industrial revolution,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun said, describing him as a man of a “convergent leadership.”

For the first minister of unification of his administration, the president chose Cho Myoung-gyon, who built his career with the ministry. He also served as a secretary on unification and national security issues to former President Roh Moo-hyun. This is the first time a unification minister nominee has been selected from within the ministry’s ranks.

“(Cho) is a former civil servant well-versed in (matters related to) inter-Korean summits and North Korean (policy) strategy,” Park said, adding that Cho has a clear understanding of the Moon administration’s North Korean policies and inter-Korean issues.

Regarding Moon’s choice of individuals who were involved in past inter-Korean summits, Park said it was not a deciding factor in the nominations and appointments.

However, he added that their experience may come into play down the line.

“It was not deliberately arranged, but should such developments occur, their experiences and strengths could produce good results,” Park said.

Along with Cho, National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon played a key role in arranging summit talks between the two Koreas in 2000 and 2007.

Along with the nominees for the unification and science ministries, former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Yung-rok was tapped to lead the Agriculture Ministry.

Kim served two terms in the National Assembly from 2008 to 2016, before which he served as a deputy governor of South Jeolla Province and chief of Wando County, South Jeolla Province.

For the position of minister of gender equality and family, Sungkyunkwan University history professor Chung Hyun-back was nominated.

Chung has been involved in civic activism and served as a co-leader of the nongovernmental organization People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.

“(Chung) will strengthen support for enabling women to work and ensuring the safety and health of youths,” Park said.

In addition to the minister nominations, three vice ministers and the standing commissioner of the Korea Communications Commission were also named.

Kim Hyun-soo will be raised to the position of minister of agriculture and Lee In-ho to the post of first vice minister of industry. Kim and Lee are currently assistant vice ministers at the respective ministries.

Lee Sook-jin, a women’s rights activist and a former presidential aide to Roh, has been selected as vice minister of the Gender Ministry, while Ko Sam-seog will be reappointed as the standing commissioner of the KCC. Ko had held the post and served as acting chairman until Thursday.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)