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
SEOUL – 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.
“Our new government has begun work amid unprecedented low growth, economic polarization and economic hardships for the working class, ” Moon said.
Kim, the president’s 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’s missile and nuclear threats.
