South Korea Appoints Second Female Prime Minister Han Duck-soo: "I Will Do My Best"

SEOUL, July 1 (CNA) -- South Korea's second female Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, was sworn into office today. President Lee Jae-myung presented her with the letter of appointment, saying, "I entrust this to you." Han Duck-soo stated that South Korea has become a nation leading change, and the government will act more swiftly, and she will do her utmost to fulfill her duties.

According to Yonhap News, President Lee Jae-myung presented the letter of appointment to the new Prime Minister Han Duck-soo at the Blue House today. Lee Jae-myung encouraged her, saying, "I entrust this to you." Han Duck-soo responded, "I will do my best."

Han Duck-soo is the second Prime Minister of the Lee Jae-myung administration, the 50th Prime Minister overall, and the second female Prime Minister in South Korean history. Yesterday's parliamentary vote saw 166 out of 167 attending lawmakers vote in favor, with one invalid vote. This vote was led by the pro-government bloc, including the Democratic Party, the Party for Future Innovation, and the Progressive Party, in the absence of the People Power Party.

Upon taking office today, Han Duck-soo stated, "Our country has transformed from a nation chasing a great era of change into a nation leading great change." She pointed out that the government will also adapt to this change by acting more swiftly to ensure necessary policies are implemented in a timely manner, adding, "I will also do my utmost to fulfill my duties."

Han Duck-soo emphasized that she will invest more boldly in AI and cutting-edge industries, and strive to truly integrate these achievements into the lives of the people, creating opportunities for youth growth and advancement.

Regarding the role of Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo said, "The public and private sectors must now speak a common language, and the speed of the private sector and the speed of the government must be synchronized. This is a time when large-scale industrial policies must be promoted." Han Duck-soo also expressed her hope that her understanding of industry, and her understanding of public administration operations, though not for a long time, will help government departments advance policies collaboratively.

On policy priorities, Han Duck-soo stated, "The President has always emphasized, and I believe it is a philosophy that should be continued, to build a government that saves the lives of its citizens." Discussing suicide prevention policies, she expressed her hope to integrate scattered data from various ministries, jointly review them through statistical analysis, and make improving related policies an important task. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150701

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