President Lee Jae-myung presented the official appointment letter to Han Seong-suk on July 1, 2026, formally beginning her term as prime minister [1].
The appointment marks a significant milestone for South Korean governance as Han becomes the first woman to serve in the role since 2006 [3]. This return to female leadership in the prime minister's office follows a 20-year gap in gender representation for the position.
The ceremony took place during a morning event in Seoul [1]. The formal process concluded after the National Assembly approved Han's nomination during a plenary session the previous day [2]. President Lee then ratified the nomination to complete the constitutional requirements for the appointment [1].
Han enters office as the 50th prime minister of South Korea [1]. Her appointment was driven by the ruling coalition in the National Assembly, which pushed the nomination through the legislative body [2].
As the 50th person to hold the title, Han assumes leadership of the government's administrative functions. The appointment follows the established legal framework where the president nominates a candidate subject to parliamentary consent [1].
Reporters said that Han is the first woman to hold this post in 20 years, following the tenure of former prime minister Han Myeong-sook [3]. The transition marks a shift in the executive branch's composition under President Lee's administration.
“Han Seong-suk is the first woman to serve as prime minister since 2006.”
The appointment of Han Seong-suk restores female leadership to the prime minister's office for the first time in two decades. By securing National Assembly approval and completing the constitutional process, President Lee has solidified his executive team with a leader who breaks a long-standing gender trend in South Korea's highest administrative role.
