He nominated Kim Min-seok as Prime Minister, while former Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, former Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-jong, and diplomat-turned-politician Wi Sung-lac were reportedly among his potential picks for positions in national security and foreign affairs posts.[4][5] Lee also nominated Rep. Kang Hoon-sik, a former DPK spokesman, as his first chief of staff, Lee Jong-seok for the director of the National Intelligence Service, Hwang In-kwon, a retired four-star Army general, as the chief of the Presidential Security Service, Wi Sung-lac as director of the National Security Council (NSC), and Rep. Kang Yu-jung, who was a spokeswoman for Lee's 2025 presidential campaign team, as his presidential spokesperson.[6]
Seeking to ensure continuity in state affairs, Lee turned down the resignation offers of holdover members of the previous cabinet, with the exception of Justice Minister Park Sung-jae.[6] He met with Yoon's holdover cabinet on 5 June, including Acting Prime Minister Lee Ju-ho.[7]
By 23 June 2025, Lee had nominated numerous more ministers. On 23 June alone, he would nominate 10 ministers to his cabinet, including his defense, foreign affairs and unification ministers.[8] His defense minister nominee Ahn Gyu-back will be the first civilian defense minister since 1961 upon confirmation.[8][9] His unification minister nominee Chung Dong-young is known for his close engagement with North Korea during his previous tenure as the unification minister under the President Roh Moo-hyun.[10]
On 24 June 2025, Kim Min-Seok's two parliamentary day confirmation hearing began.[11][12] The second and final confirmation hearing for Kim at the National Assembly was held on 25 June 2025.[13][14][15][unreliable source?]
On 30 June 2025, South Korea National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik stated that the motion to approve Kim's prime minister nomination would be voted on no later than 3 July 2025.[16] The same day, Lee Jae-myung nominated six new cabinet ministers including two deputy prime ministers and tapping his longtime aide Jeong Seong-ho as the new Justice Minister and former President of Chungnam National University Lee Jin-sook, which shares similar name with the chairwoman of Korea Communications CommissionLee Jin-sook, as the new Education Minister.[17][18][19]
On 3 July 2025, the South Korean National Assembly voted to approve the nomination of Kim Min-seok as Prime Minister in a 173–3 vote.[20] Kim would then be sworn in as Prime Minister on 7 July 2025.[21] The post of prime minister is the only cabinet level position which requires National Assembly approval in South Korea.[20] As of 30 June 2025, Lee has nominated 17 of 19 cabinet ministers.[22] On 11 July 2025, the last two remaining cabinet ministers were named, thus finalizing the lineup for Lee Jae Myung's 19-member cabinet.[23][24] The cabinet now awaits official presidential confirmation.[24] On 13 July 2025, Lee appointed 12 vice ministers. One notable appointment was Hong So-young, who would become the first woman to serve as commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration since the administration was founded in 1970.[25]
Lee has opted for his cabinet minister nominees to face scrutiny hearings in the National Assembly prior to their confirmation, and the first hearings for Lee's cabinet nominees began on 14 July 2025.[26][27] Education Minister nominee Lee Jin-sook, Gender Equality Minister nominee Rep. Kang Sun-woo, Minister of Science, ICT nominee Bae Kyung-hoon and Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chung Jae-soo would be among those who their confirmation hearings held on 14 July.[26][28][29] Defense Minister nominee Ahn Gyu-back would have his scrutiny hearing on 15 July.[30][27] The same day, Kwon Oh-eul, nominee for Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, and Han Sung-sook, nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, would have their scrutiny hearings as well.[31][unreliable source?]
On 20 July, Lee withdrew the nomination of Lee Jin-sook as Minister of Education.[32] On 23 July, Kang Sun-woo resigned as the nominee of the Minister of Gender Equality and Family.[33]
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