South Korea set to name first female prime minister in 20 years

June 07, 2026 / 5:49 PM

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung

Sharjah 24 – AFP: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Han Seong-sook, the current minister for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Startups, to be the nation’s next prime minister. If approved by parliament, the 58-year-old would become only the second woman in South Korea's history to hold the office.

The nomination follows recent local elections where the ruling party performed well nationally but lost the key Seoul mayoral race. The elections were also marred by ballot paper shortages at 50 polling stations, which prompted the resignation of the state election watchdog chief. Outgoing Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is expected to step down to run for ruling party leadership.

Focus on economic growth amid political transitions

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik stated that Han was selected for her ability to guide economic growth and public welfare through a period of global instability and rapid AI expansion.

While her appointment requires confirmation by the 300-member National Assembly, approval is widely expected due to the ruling party's parliamentary majority, barring any unexpected ethical issues.