Han Sung-sook's rumored PM bid raises hopes at Ministry of SMEs and Startups for faster deregulation

Han among names floated as next prime minister candidate; if appointed, she would be only the second woman to hold the post in South Korean history

Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Sung-sook [Ministry of SMEs and Startups]

Speculation that Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Sung-sook could be tapped as the next prime minister is drawing growing attention inside the ministry. Officials there are quietly expressing hope that her elevation to the post would give fresh momentum to regulatory reform efforts tied to the ministry.

According to government sources Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung is weighing options for a successor to Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, with expectations running high that Kim will soon submit his resignation. Han is being mentioned as a leading candidate alongside Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho and presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik.

Should Han be nominated, she would become only the second woman to serve as prime minister in South Korean history, following Han Myeong-sook roughly 20 years ago. Since taking office as minister last year, Han has poured energy into support policies for small and medium-sized enterprises and small business owners. Her background as former CEO of Naver has consistently drawn praise for sharpening the ministry's grip on policy. The ministry has also taken a leading role in combating corporate technology theft — an area previously dominated by the Korea Fair Trade Commission and the Intellectual Property Office — after launching a dedicated reporting platform called "Technology Theft Sinmungo." Han has steadily raised the ministry's profile by shifting its policy orientation away from protection and support toward growth and advancement.

Han's strengths as a business executive include hands-on industry experience, drive and a deep understanding of the digital economy. She drew particular attention recently by turning the "Everyone's Startup" project — a nationwide startup audition initiative aligned with the Lee administration's "National Startup Era" vision — into a major success. The program closed applications on May 15 with 62,944 applicants, the largest turnout ever recorded for a government ministry competition. Drawing on her Naver experience, Han personally led the design of the platform to make it more accessible to the public.

Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Sung-sook delivers opening remarks at the launch ceremony for the "Everyone's Startup Project" held in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on March 25. [Ministry of SMEs and Startups]

With Han's name circulating as a prime ministerial prospect, President Lee's past public remarks about her are drawing renewed attention. At a meeting with small business owners held at Cheong Wa Dae's banquet hall in March, Lee openly praised Han, saying, "Our SMEs minister is doing a great job, isn't she?" More recently, he took to social media to commend the Everyone's Startup project, writing, "Minister Han, thank you for this great achievement," and adding, "The path to becoming a truly startup-centered nation is opening up. I look forward to a second, third, and nth round."

"If Minister Han moves up to prime minister, we expect regulatory bottlenecks that have stalled policy coordination to finally get cleared," a ministry official said. "The ministry is involved in helping innovative venture companies break into new businesses, and since the prime minister's office oversees coordination across ministries, we're hopeful that would have a positive effect."

boo@heraldcorp.com