Lee’s elevation represents a further step into uncharted territory — effectively a “third-degree acting role,” as Korean commentators have described it. (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, May 1 (Korea Bizwire) — In an extraordinary development that underscores South Korea’s ongoing political instability, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho assumed interim control of the nation’s executive leadership on Thursday, following the simultaneous resignations of former Acting President Han Duck-soo and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok.
With the offices of the president, prime minister, and finance minister all vacant, Lee — who ranks fourth in the governmental hierarchy — is now serving as acting president, acting prime minister, and education minister, marking an unprecedented concentration of authority in a single official.
This power shift follows the impeachment and removal of the president earlier this year, which had already led to Choi briefly serving as acting president in Han’s absence. Lee’s elevation represents a further step into uncharted territory — effectively a “third-degree acting role,” as Korean commentators have described it.
Lee, a seasoned academic with a doctorate in economics from Cornell University, has built his career primarily as an education expert, having served as education minister under the Lee Myung-bak administration (2010–2013) and later under the current administration.
While his academic background includes economics, concerns are mounting over whether he can effectively navigate the turbulent landscape of global trade and security — particularly in the face of escalating pressure from the newly reinstalled Trump administration in the United States.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok (left) and Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho attend a plenary session at the National Assembly on May 1. (Yonhap)
His tenure, however, is expected to be short-lived. With the June 3 snap presidential election just 33 days away, Lee’s mandate is limited. Rather than implementing bold initiatives, he is expected to prioritize stability and continuity, ensuring that ministries operate without disruption during this transitional period.
On the economic front, real authority is likely to remain with First Vice Finance Minister Kim Beom-seok, who has been named acting finance minister. Kim is expected to preside over key economic meetings and maintain policy consistency, easing some of the burden on Lee.
Lee’s immediate focus is also on managing national security and ensuring the integrity of the upcoming election. On Thursday, he issued emergency directives to all ministry officials, instructing them to prevent any administrative vacuum and to provide full support for a fair and orderly electoral process.
“This government must do everything possible to maintain national stability and avoid confusion,” Lee said in a nationwide directive early Thursday morning, underlining his commitment to steering the country through a time of historic political turbulence.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
