President Lee Jae Myung Conducts Major Cabinet Reshuffle Amid Falling Approval Ratings

President Lee Jae Myung reshuffled six Cabinet posts on Sunday, replacing the ministers of justice, finance, infrastructure, defense, SMEs, and family. The overhaul includes the nomination of Democratic Party Rep. Kim Seung-won as justice minister and Basic Income Party Rep. Yong Hye-in as gender equality and family minister. To lead the defense ministry, Lee nominated retired Army Gen. Kang Shin-chul to replace outgoing minister Ahn Gyu-back, the country's first civilian defense chief in over six decades. Ahn expressed mixed feelings about his tenure, which was marked by efforts to retake wartime operational control from the United States and scrutiny over his military service records.

The reshuffle comes as President Lee's approval rating recently fell to 42 percent according to a Gallup Korea poll. The administration also appointed First Vice Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il as deputy prime minister for economic affairs and Vice Minister for Transport Hong Jee-sun as minister of land, infrastructure and transport. These appointments of professional bureaucrats suggest a focus on improving the implementation of existing policies regarding housing and the economy.

Perspectives on the reshuffle vary by political lean. Left-leaning coverage frames the move as a positive opportunity for the administration to regain momentum, prioritize unity within the ruling bloc, and address public criticism through expert appointments. Center-leaning coverage describes the reshuffle as a surprise move to strengthen control over the policy agenda amid public discontent over inequality and housing. Meanwhile, the main opposition People Power Party has criticized the picks, alleging that the nomination of Kim Seung-won is intended to help drop criminal charges against the president and that the appointment of Yong Hye-in could deepen social divisions.