South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Han Seong-sook, the country’s Minister of SMEs and Start-ups, to serve as prime minister, the presidential office announced on Sunday. If confirmed by the National Assembly, Han would become South Korea’s first female prime minister in two decades.
Han previously served as chief executive of Naver Corp, South Korea’s largest domestic internet company, before joining the Lee administration. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said at a press briefing that Han is expected to lead the country’s transformation in artificial intelligence — one of the new government’s stated priorities — and to translate the export-led, semiconductor-driven recovery into broader gains.
“Han will be able to transform South Korea’s economic growth — driven by the semiconductor boom and rising exports — into inclusive growth that reaches everyone, including small and medium-sized enterprises,” Kang said.
The prime minister’s role is largely ceremonial and administrative under South Korea’s presidential system, though the post-holder coordinates the cabinet and stands in for the president on procedural matters. A confirmation hearing in the National Assembly typically precedes the parliamentary vote.
The nomination would make Han Seong-sook the country’s second female prime minister, after Han Myung-sook served in the role under President Roh Moo-hyun in 2006–2007.
South Korea remains a significant bilateral partner for Sri Lanka. Seoul extended a USD 267 million EDCF loan for debt restructuring earlier this year, and a UNDP-CIABOC anti-corruption assessment is now under way in Colombo with Korean institutional support.
Source: Ada Derana (citing Reuters).
