Han Sung-sook Nominated as Prime Minister, Could Become South Korea’s Second Female PM | WPN World People News

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on June 7 nominated Han Sung-sook, the 59-year-old Minister of SMEs and Startups, to serve as the country’s next Prime Minister. If approved by the National Assembly, Han will become only the second woman in South Korean history to hold the post.

South Korea’s first female prime minister was Han Myeong-sook, who served from 2006 to 2007. Nearly two decades later, the country may once again see a woman appointed to one of the highest positions in government.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced the nomination during a press briefing. He said Han’s background in the information technology sector, including her experience as the head of a major IT company and her current role overseeing the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, makes her well qualified to lead South Korea’s transition into the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and support the nation’s future development.

Kang added that Han possesses the ability to integrate industrial and public policy, helping ensure that economic gains driven by the semiconductor industry and export growth are shared more broadly with small and medium-sized enterprises and ordinary citizens, promoting more balanced and inclusive growth.

Under South Korea’s presidential system, the prime minister is the second-highest-ranking government official. However, the position is primarily responsible for administrative coordination and assisting the president, with its political symbolism often outweighing its direct policymaking authority.