Seoul: Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Minister nominee Lee So-young is a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), recognized for her extensive career as a climate and environmental lawyer. At 41, Lee has been a significant advocate for environmental reform and sustainable practices in South Korea's legal and political arenas.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee passed the national bar exam in 2009 and began her legal career at Kim and Chang, one of South Korea's foremost law firms. Her dedication to climate issues led her to leave the firm in 2016 to establish Solutions for Our Climate, a nonprofit organization committed to addressing climate change and environmental challenges.

Lee's work has been instrumental in launching the "coal finance" campaign, a social movement aimed at regulating public fund investments in coal-fired power generation. This campaign has been pivotal in shaping public policy and discourse on sustainable energy practices in South Korea.

During the Moon Jae-in administration, Lee served as a manager at the National Council on Climate and Air Quality, where she furthered her commitment to environmental policies. Her political journey continued as she joined the ruling Democratic Party, securing election to the National Assembly in both the 2020 and 2024 general elections. Her nomination as SME Minister is seen as a strategic move to integrate environmental sustainability within the economic policies for small and medium enterprises.