Fmr. trade chief Yeo Han-koo appointed as trade minister

President Lee Jae-myung has appointed former trade chief Yeo Han-koo as trade minister, who will lead tariff talks with the U.S.

Yeo served as chief negotiator under the former Moon Jae-in government, during the first Trump administration.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the appointee has been recognized for his excellent policy-making and negotiating ability with regard to international trade and economic cooperation.

Also on Tuesday, Lee Hyoung-il, commissioner of Statistics Korea, was named first vice finance minister and Park Yoon-joo, minister for South Korea's mission to ASEAN, as first vice foreign minister.