Yoon picks new ministers of defense, culture, gender equality

• South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol initiated a significant cabinet reshuffle Wednesday, appointing new defense, culture and gender equality ministers in a bid to rejuvenate his administration’s momentum.
• Yoon named Rep. Shin Won-sik of the ruling People Power Party as the defense minister, reappointed former Culture Minister Yu In-chon under the former Lee Myung-bak to the same role, and selected Kim Haeng, a spokesperson for the former Park Geun-hye administration as the gender equality minister.
• Shin previously served as a policy planning officer at the Defense Ministry, as commander of the Capital Defense Command, and as chief of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is an incumbent member of the National Assembly who was elected through proportional representation in the last general election.
• Yoon also nominated former actor and ex-culture minister Yu as the new culture minister. However, Yu has had a thorny relationship with the press during his tenure. His confrontational approach was highlighted when he was caught on video berating reporters at a National Assembly audit.
• Kim Haeng, meanwhile, was nominated to replace Kim Hyun-sook, who was mired in controversy over a lack of preparation by the government for the World Scout Jamboree. Though abolishing the ministry was the president’s campaign pledge, the nominee said she would continue its role of supporting people to build healthy families until its fate ends.

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