Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has put forward his choices for the roles of budget minister and oceans minister, as confirmed by Cheong Wa Dae. Rep. Park Hong-keun, a seasoned four-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, has been nominated to lead the Ministry of Planning and Budget. In parallel, Hwang Jong-woo, who currently chairs the Korea Maritime Cooperation Center's international cooperation committee, has been selected to head the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. This announcement was made by Lee Kyu-yeon, the presidential secretary for public affairs, during a recent briefing.

According to Yonhap News Agency, these nominations follow the withdrawal of Lee Hye-hoon as the budget minister nominee in January due to controversies surrounding her alleged misconduct and questionable real estate dealings involving her family. Although cabinet appointments require parliamentary hearings, they do not need formal approval to assume their positions.

Should Park be confirmed, he will serve as the first budget minister under the Lee administration, which was established this year following a government reorganization. Park's experience includes serving as the chief of the parliamentary special committee on budget and accounts, and he is recognized for his close association with President Lee, having acted as the Democratic Party's floor leader during Lee's leadership.

Hwang Jong-woo's nomination comes after the resignation of former Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo, who stepped down late last year amid bribery allegations linked to the Unification Church. In addition to these appointments, President Lee has named 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.