President Lee Jae Myung nominated Han Seong-sook to serve as South Korea's next prime minister on Sunday [3].
The appointment signals a strategic shift toward integrating artificial intelligence into the national economy while breaking a long-standing gender barrier in the country's highest administrative office.
Han currently serves as the minister of small and medium-sized enterprises. If confirmed by the National Assembly, she would become only the second woman to hold the prime minister post in South Korean history [1]. She would also be the first woman to lead the government in 20 years [2].
President Lee said Han's specific expertise in AI policy was a primary driver for the nomination. He said her experience would be critical in driving an AI-driven economic transformation, and fostering inclusive growth across the country [5].
The nomination comes as the administration seeks to modernize the economic landscape. By selecting a leader with a background in SME management and emerging technology, the president aims to bridge the gap between traditional industrial sectors and the digital future.
Han's transition from her current ministerial role to the prime minister's office depends on the upcoming legislative approval process. The move is viewed as a significant step for gender representation in the South Korean executive branch, given the rarity of women in such high-ranking leadership positions.
“Han would become only the second woman to hold the prime‑minister post in South Korean history”
The nomination of Han Seong-sook reflects a dual priority for the Lee administration: accelerating the adoption of AI to maintain global economic competitiveness and addressing the historical underrepresentation of women in South Korean governance. By choosing a technocrat from the SME sector, the government is signaling that future growth will be tied to digital transformation rather than traditional industrial expansion alone.
