Ha Joon-kyung, newly named presidential director of national policy, talks with Nobel economics laureate Peter Howitt, professor emeritus at Brown University, at a conference on shifting the economic paradigm to reignite growth at The Westin Josun Seoul in Jung District, central Seoul, on May 15.YONHAP
President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday named Ha Joon-kyung, his senior secretary for economic growth, as presidential director of national policy.
Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Moon Shin-hak will replace Ha as senior presidential secretary for economic growth.
“In line with the president's wish to look more closely at the will and the lives of the people, we sought to reflect the people's voices more faithfully in state affairs,” Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said at a briefing announcing the appointments.
A native of Jeonju, North Jeolla, Ha graduated from Joongang High School in Seoul and the economics department of Seoul National University before earning a doctorate in economics at Brown University. Ha has also served as a research fellow at the Korea Institute of Finance, a professor of economics at Hanyang University's Erica campus and a member of the National Economic Advisory Council.
Ha became the administration's first senior secretary for economic growth in June 2025, shortly after Lee took office, and has held the post since.
"[He is] a leading scholar who has built fair growth and the easing of polarization into growth strategy,” Seong said of Ha. “As the Lee administration's first senior secretary for the economy, [Ha] showed the ability to turn the 'Korea discount' into a 'Korea premium.'”
The “Korea discount” refers to the longstanding tendency of Korean stocks to trade at lower valuations than comparable companies overseas, a gap widely blamed on weak corporate governance and low shareholder returns.
“We expect [Ha] to bring about policy changes that everyone can feel in areas directly tied to people's lives, such as welfare, jobs, education and housing,” Seong added.
Moon Shin-hak, the new senior presidential secretary for economic growth, delivers a speech at a ceremony marking the 23rd Shipbuilding and Marine Day at the L Tower in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Sept. 10.YONHAP
Moon, a native of Haenam, South Jeolla, graduated from Chosun University High School and the economics department of Seoul National University and entered public service after passing the 38th higher civil service examination. Moon served as director-general for nuclear power industry policy, policy adviser to the minister and spokesperson at the former Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
"[He is]an expert on the real economy who led the push to foster cutting-edge industries such as semiconductors and AI,” Seong said of Moon. "[Moon] will swiftly drive new growth engines, including the three megaprojects, and lead the recovery of the potential growth rate.”
Democratic Party Rep. Song Young-gil, newly named special presidential adviser for peace diplomacy, attends a Korea-Kazakhstan business roundtable at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Sept. 15.JOINT PRESS CORPS
Democratic Party Rep. Kim Byung-joo, newly named special presidential adviser for defense policy, questions government officials on foreign affairs, unification and security during an interpellation session at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Sept. 10.YONHAP
Lee also named Democratic Party (DP) Reps. Song Young-gil and Kim Byung-joo as special presidential advisers.
Song, a six-term lawmaker, will advise on peace diplomacy. Song previously served as mayor of Incheon, chair of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and chair of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation.
Kim, a retired four-star Army general, will advise on defense policy. Kim served as deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command and is currently the DP's ranking member on the National Assembly's National Defense Committee.
Kwon Dae-young, vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission, was appointed first vice minister of finance and economy. Jeong Eui-kyung, head of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's land and urban policy office, was named second vice minister of land, infrastructure and transport.
Park Jeong-hyun was named chair of the presidential committee on regional development and decentralization, a minister-level post. Park served two terms as head of Buyeo County in South Chungcheong and was previously the province's vice governor for political affairs.
“Now is the time for execution,” Seong said. “We will focus all our capabilities on making changes the public can feel, with the attitude of being judged by actions, not words, and take responsibility for the results.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
