Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has announced the nomination of key officials to his cabinet, with Rep. Park Hong-keun selected as the new budget minister and Hwang Jong-woo as the oceans minister, as stated by Cheong Wa Dae on Monday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Park Hong-keun, a seasoned four-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, has been chosen to lead the Ministry of Planning and Budget. Hwang Jong-woo, who chairs the Korea Maritime Cooperation Center's international cooperation committee, is set to head the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Lee Kyu-yeon, the presidential secretary for public affairs, provided these updates during a briefing.

These nominations follow the withdrawal of Lee Hye-hoon's nomination as budget minister in January. Lee Hye-hoon's candidacy was marred by controversy due to alleged misconduct, including questionable real estate transactions involving her family. While cabinet appointments require parliamentary hearings, they do not need approval to assume office.

If confirmed, Park Hong-keun will be the first budget minister under the Lee administration, which was established this year following a government reorganization. Park has been chief of the parliamentary special committee on budget and accounts and has maintained a close relationship with President Lee, having previously served as the Democratic Party's floor leader during Lee's leadership.

Hwang Jong-woo's nomination comes after former Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo resigned last year amid allegations of accepting bribes from the Unification Church. Additionally, President Lee appointed Jung Il-yeon, a former judge, as the chief of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and Song Sang-kyo, a former secretary general of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to lead the commission.