Han Seong-sook Nominated as South Korea's First Female Prime Minister in Two Decades
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has nominated Han Seong-sook, the former CEO of internet giant Naver, as the country's next Prime Minister—poised to become the first woman to hold the office in 20 years.
On June 7, 2026, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung nominated Han Seong-sook as the country's next Prime Minister. If confirmed by the National Assembly, she will become the second woman in South Korean history to hold the office—the first being Han Myeong-sook, who served from 2006 to 2007.
Background
Han Seong-sook currently serves as the Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups. Before entering government, she had a distinguished career in the private sector as the former CEO of Naver, South Korea's dominant internet platform and search engine. President Lee selected her specifically for her extensive technology sector experience, expecting her to lead South Korea's transition into the artificial intelligence (AI) era and drive inclusive economic growth.
Political Context
She was nominated to succeed the current Prime Minister, Kim Min-seok, who is expected to step down to pursue the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party. Her nomination represents a significant signal from the Lee administration about its priorities for technology-driven governance and gender representation at the highest levels of power.
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