South Korea President Moon Jae-in named the finance minister, foreign minister and top security adviser for his new government on Sunday as it faces challe<\/b>
\nSEOUL \u2013 South Korea President Moon Jae-in named the finance minister, foreign minister and top security adviser for his new government on Sunday as it faces challenges nurturing economic recovery, soothing ties with China and dealing with North Korea.
Moon told a media briefing that he had nominated former Vice Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon as deputy prime minister and finance minister, while a United Nations senior adviser on policy, Kang Kyung-wha, was tapped as the next foreign minister.
Elected this month after a graft scandal brought down his predecessor, Moon stressed the need to improve conditions for ordinary people, with his government needing to put more life into a sluggish economic recovery.
\u201cOur new government has begun work amid unprecedented low growth, economic polarization and economic hardships for the working class, \u201d Moon said.
Kim, the president\u2019s pick for the finance portfolio, is known for his attention to detail and humble personal background. Two Finance Ministry officials said his appointment would be well received in the ministry.
The new administration also faces diplomatic challenges, soothing ties with China, the biggest buyer of South Korean goods, after they became strained by the deployment of the U. S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system, as well as increased tensions over North Korea\u2019s missile and nuclear threats.
Kang, the woman chosen to be foreign minister, has an extensive career in the ministry and at the United Nations, said the president. Moon said her appointment gave \u201cgreat meaning\u201d to gender equality among his Cabinet.
His nominees for ministerial posts have to attend a parliamentary hearing before they can officially take up their posts.
Chung Eui-yong, a top foreign policy adviser during the presidential election campaign, was named as the president\u2019s national security adviser.
Chung met with U. S. President Donald Trump\u2019s security advisers last week to discuss an upcoming summit and North Korea\u2019s nuclear issues.
Chung said earlier that although the alliance of U. S. and South Korea is crucial, the process to deploy U. S. anti-missile system THAAD should be reviewed under Moon\u2019s government.
THAAD has been deployed in South Korea since April and its presence has spurred diplomatic rifts with China and the United States.
\u201cI believe one of the most important aspects the country\u2019s security adviser should have is a firm mind on security and diplomatic abilities when we face diplomatic and economic issues tied together, including North Korea\u2019s nuclear program, THAAD and free trade agreements, \u201d said Moon. \u201cChung is the right man.\u201d
The South Korean president also named Moon Chung-in, a leading advocate of engagement policies on North Korea, as a special aide on diplomacy and security.
Moon, a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, accompanied former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun on their summits with North Korea\u2019s then-leader Kim Jong Il in 2000 and 2007.
The president has said if conditions are ripe he can meet North Korea\u2019s current leader Kim Jong Un.
Moon\u2019s special envoy to Washington, Hong Seok-hyun, a former ambassador to the United States, was also named as a special presidential aide on diplomacy and security.<\/p>\n