Lead

SEOUL — New South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook took office on July 1 with a pledge to help the government keep up with the fast-changing private sector and implement necessary policies at the right time. Speaking to reporters upon her arrival at the government complex in Seoul, Han emphasized her background as an information technology expert before joining the government last year, saying it allows her to understand both the private and public sectors.

Coverage Comparison

The announcement of Han's appointment and her initial remarks were covered by Yonhap News, South Korea's leading wire service. Yonhap reported on July 1 that Han made the comments on her first day in office. A separate Yonhap report from July 10 detailed the appointment of Chae Yi-bae as her new chief of staff. Both reports focused on the new prime minister's commitments and the composition of her team, with no conflicting information between the two articles.

Key Claims

New PM's Commitment to Private Sector and Timely Policies

Han said, "The status of our country is changing from a nation chasing the great upheaval to a country leading that upheaval." She added, "To keep up with this, the government should move more swiftly, and I will make my best efforts to ensure necessary policies are implemented at the right time." Highlighting the need for coordination, she remarked, "The languages of the public and private sectors should go together and both sides should keep pace with each other." Han described her role as getting the government to move in sync, citing her understanding of industries and her grasp of the public sector's language.

Support for AI and High-Tech Industries

Han said she would support bolder investment in artificial intelligence and other high-tech industries, and remove regulatory obstacles to innovation. She expressed hope that the achievements from such efforts would seep into people's lives and provide opportunities for younger generations to leap forward.

Farewell of Former PM Kim Min-seok

Earlier on July 1, Han's predecessor, Kim Min-seok, bade farewell during a departure ceremony. Kim asked civil servants to prioritize people's lives and the socially vulnerable, saying, "I think politics is to see the future through the eyes of the weak." He pointed to his official prime ministerial tie featuring a pattern of sheep with an empty space, though the full context of his remarks was not detailed in the report.

Appointment of Chief of Staff Chae Yi-bae

On July 10, Han's office announced the appointment of former lawmaker Chae Yi-bae as her new chief of staff, effective the following day. Chae, who served in the National Assembly from 2016 to 2020, is a certified public accountant and an economic expert. He previously held roles promoting fair competition, including serving as special assistant to the prime minister for fair economy in 2021 under then Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. The office said Chae's career and expertise would assist Han in supporting the recovery of people's livelihoods and achieving AI transformation and green transformation. Chae, 51, graduated from Korea University and completed master's degree coursework at the same university's law school.