Lee appoints budget, oceans ministers after parliamentary confirmations

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung approved Tuesday the appointments of Rep. Park Hong-keun as budget minister and Hwang Jong-woo as oceans minister after their parliamentary confirmation reports were adopted through bipartisan agreements, the presidential office said. With the approval, Park, a three-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party, became the first head of the newly established Ministry of Planning and Budget, which was separated and launched under the Lee administration's government restructuring. The ministry has ended its acting leadership system 81 days after its official launch on January 2. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has filled its top post 103 days after former Minister Chun Jae-soo stepped down in December. Park Hong-keun, nominated by President Lee Jae Myung as the new minister for planning and budget, speaks during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on March 23, 2026. (Yonhap) odissy@yna.co.kr(END)