(profile) New trade minister tasked with post-pandemic trade recovery
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- Yeo Han-koo, who has been tapped as South Korea's new trade minister, is tasked with a mission to maintain a recovery in exports amid the virus pandemic and expand its trade portfolio with emerging economies.
The 51-year-old bureaucrat has served various positions at the trade ministry, before taking the current position as the presidential secretary for New Southern and New Northern policies.
"We anticipate that Yeo will successfully carry out pending issues, including coping with the new global trade orders and transition to digital commerce," the presidential office said in a statement.
He will replace Yoo Myung-hee, who had joined the race to take the throne at the World Trade Organization (WTO), but failed to win the position.
The country's outbound shipments jumped nearly 30 percent on-year in July to extend their gains to a ninth consecutive month on the back of robust demand for chips and autos.
He will also be asked to complete on-going trade negotiations with emerging economies.
South Korea currently has a set of free trade deals under way, including those with Malaysia and Uzbekistan. Asia's No. 4 economy also awaits the official launch of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
He studied business at Seoul National University and Harvard University.
Yeo has experience working at the International Finance Corp. and the South Korean Embassy in the United States as well.
His nomination does not require a parliamentary confirmation.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
Police officer admits to leaking investigation report into late actor Lee Sun-kyun
-
'Parasyte: The Grey' adapts Japanese alien invasion manga to Korean setting
-
S. Korea, U.S. launch task force to block N. Korea's nuclear, missile programs
-
N. Korean leader sends condolences to Putin over Russian concert hall shooting
-
Defense chief calls for defending NLL on anniversary of 2010 warship sinking
-
'Parasyte: The Grey' adapts Japanese alien invasion manga to Korean setting
-
Police officer admits to leaking investigation report into late actor Lee Sun-kyun
-
N. Korean leader sends condolences to Putin over Russian concert hall shooting
-
N.K. leader's sister says Japan's PM proposed summit with Kim
-
Key N. Korean officials pay condolence visit to Russian Embassy in Pyongyang over Moscow attack
-
Yellow dust advisories issued for parts of S. Korea
-
Indonesian aerospace firm CEO visits S. Korea amid probe over employee's alleged KF-21 data theft
-
Yellow dust storm blankets S. Korea; fine dust advisory issued
-
(5th LD) UNSC fails to extend mandate of expert panel monitoring N.K. sanctions enforcement
-
Super Junior's Ryeowook to marry former Tahiti member Ari