South Korean President Proposes Han Seong-sook as New Prime Minister

Seoul. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has proposed the name of Han Seong-sook as the country's new Prime Minister. According to information provided by the Presidential Office on Sunday, Han is currently holding the responsibility of Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups.

If approved by the parliament, she will become the first female Prime Minister of South Korea in the last 20 years. Han has also previously served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Naver, a major internet company in South Korea.

According to Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Secretary to the Presidential Office, Han is expected to lead the country's artificial intelligence (AI) transformation campaign.

At a press conference, Kang said – 'Han will be able to transform the economic growth, driven by the expansion of the semiconductor industry and export growth, into inclusive growth that reaches all citizens. Small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, will directly benefit from it.'

South Korea's presidential system considers the Prime Minister's post mainly administrative and formal in nature. However, the Prime Minister's post is considered important as it plays a coordinating role in government operations.

If the parliament approves her appointment, Han Seong-sook will be the first woman to become Prime Minister in South Korea's political history in two decades.