Lee makes nominations for Constitutional Court, and appoints four vice ministers

President Lee Jae Myung has made another round of nominations, including a new chief of the Constitutional Court,.. and four vice ministers.

Our Kim Bo-kyoung tells us more.

President Lee Jae Myung made his latest nominations on Thursday.

As the new chief of the Constitutional Court, former Supreme Court justice Kim Sang-hwan was nominated.

The Presidential Office said Kim, also a former constitutional rapporteur judge, . was widely known for his deep expertise in constitutional and legal theory.

For the remaining presidential judicial appointment to the Constitutional Court, the Presidential Office tapped Oh Young-joon, a presiding judge at the Seoul High Court.

"This appointment marks the new government's first step toward restoring the Constitutional Court. It aims to put an end to the severe attempts to undermine the Court and to strengthen public trust in constitutional adjudication as well as the court's independence."

A lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, Lim Kwang-hyun was nominated as commissioner of the National Tax Service.

Selected last year to a proportional representation seat slot, he would be the first sitting lawmaker to lead the National Tax Service if appointed.

All three nominees are subject to National Assembly confirmation hearings before a formal appointment by the president, but they do not need its approval to take their posts.

The latest round of personnel appointments also included vice ministers of defense, health, the environment, and labor.

Lee Doo-hee, the former commander of the Army Strategic Missile Command, has been appointed vice defense minister.

"He's seen as the right person to respond to evolving battlefields, boost all-around deterrence under the ROK-U.S. alliance. He is also highly regarded for his potential to lead defense innovation through AI and advanced technology."

Lee Seu-ran , director-general for social welfare policy at the health ministry, was promoted to first vice minister, while Kum Han-seung , president of the National Institute of Environmental Research, was named vice environment minister.

And for the vice labor minister, Kwon Chang-jun , director-general for planning and coordination at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, was promoted.

Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.