Agriculture Minister nominee Kim Jae-soo is a technocrat with more than 30 years of experience in rural affairs, administration and distribution.

Since 2011, Kim has served as chief executive officer at the state-controlled Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp. He is the longest serving CEO at aT Corp. as he was reappointed in 2015, proving his management skills.

Before taking up the CEO post at the state firm, Kim served various posts within the Agriculture Ministry including first vice minister. The nominee is known to be a man of innovative ideas who raised the government’s policy on rural affairs to a new level.

Born in 1957 in North Gyeongsang Province, he studied economics at Kyungpook National University and began his career at the Agriculture Ministry in 1977. He received a master’s degree from Michigan State University and also has a Ph.D. in economics from ChungAng University in Seoul.

Kim also has experience in trade affairs by working as a liaison official at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The nominee has brought creative ideas to rural affairs, such as cutting down distribution cost as well as stabilizing the demand and supply of agro-fishery goods, according to industry watchers.

By Kim Bo-gyung (lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)