South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung has nominated Han Seong‑sook, the minister for SMEs and startups, to serve as prime minister, the presidential office announced Sunday. If confirmed by parliament, she would become the country’s first female prime minister in two decades and only the second woman to hold the post.
Han, a former CEO of tech giant Naver, is expected to steer South Korea’s push into artificial intelligence. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon‑sik said she is well‑positioned to turn the nation’s semiconductor‑driven growth into “inclusive growth that reaches everyone, including small and medium‑sized enterprises.”
Kang said President Lee views Han as the right leader to guide the country through a “major strategic transition” shaped by AI advances and global uncertainty.
Her nomination follows the ruling party’s strong performance in last week’s local elections, despite losing the Seoul mayoral race. The vote was marred by ballot shortages at dozens of polling stations, prompting the resignation of the head of the national election commission.
Parliament is expected to approve Han’s nomination, given the ruling party’s majority in the 300‑seat legislature, unless unexpected ethical issues surface. If confirmed, the 58‑year‑old would succeed outgoing Prime Minister Kim Min‑seok, who is widely expected to seek the Democratic Party leadership.
