President Lee announces second round of Cabinet picks

President Lee Jae Myung 's Cabinet is taking visible shape with a new round of names shared this past Sunday.

Our top office correspondent Song Yoo-jin walks us through the latest nominations.

The second round of President Lee Jae Myung's Cabinet picks was based on, as the Presidential Office puts it, "expertise and innovation."

On Sunday, veteran bureaucrat Koo Yun-cheol was named Finance Minister.

He previously served as the ministry's 2nd Vice Minister, budget director, and head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination.

"Koo is considered the right person to chart a path for Korea's growth, with deep expertise in public finances and overall policymaking."

Ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Sung-ho has been selected as Justice Minister, a position central to delivering on President Lee's campaign pledge to reform the Prosecutor's Office.

Jung is known for his broad understanding of judicial reform, built over five terms in the National Assembly.

Fellow DP lawmaker Yun Ho-jung, has been chosen to lead the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, another key post in the administration's efforts to reshape the prosecution system.

The plan is to review the separation of the prosecution's investigative and indictment powers by creating a new agency within the ministry to oversee investigations.

Other nominees include Lee Jin-sook, former president of Chungnam National University, as Education Minister; Kim Jung-kwan, president of Doosan Enerbility, as Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Jeong Eun-kyeong, former commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as Health Minister.

This leaves only the Land and Culture Minister posts yet to be named.

For the two vacant senior secretary posts at the top office, Jeon Seong-hwan will serve as Senior Secretary for Public Engagement and Social Cohesion.

The position has been renamed from Senior Secretary for Civil and Social agenda to highlight the President's focus on building national unity.

"Jeon has played many roles, from civic activism to serving as the head of public institutions and as a local government official, working to bring the quiet, often overlooked voices in our society into policymaking."

Prosecutor-turned-lawyer Bong Wook has been appointed Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, a role expected to serve as the control tower for the prosecution reform initiative.

Lee's initial pick, Oh Kwang-soo, withdrew over allegations of receiving loans under other people's names.

Also announced were several vice-ministerial appointments, including Lee Dong-soo and Kim Ho-hong as deputy directors of the National Intelligence Service, as well as Lee Jin-soo as Vice Justice Minister.

"Among Sunday's announcements, minister nominees must undergo confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, though their appointments will be decided by the president.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News."