Who is the ministry's No. 1 'Great Stone Face'? The story behind Moon Sin-hak's farewell

A send-off speech named the ministry's top two 'Great Stone Faces'; Moon bristled at the label — then asked for a different one entirely

Moon Sin-hak (front row, fifth from right), senior presidential secretary for economic growth at Cheong Wa Dae, poses with Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy staff at his farewell ceremony at Government Complex Sejong on Oct. 1. [Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]

"All this time, I have been hiding behind Deputy Minister Moon — my own 'Great Stone Face' — and enjoying the rather comfortable position of No. 2 Great Stone Face at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. But now that the deputy minister is leaving on Oct. 1, I find myself, quite against my will, inheriting the throne."

Those were the words Han Ju-hyeon, director of the ministry's gas industry division, delivered as a farewell tribute at the Oct. 1 send-off ceremony for then-Deputy Minister Moon Sin-hak at Government Complex Sejong, publicly naming the ministry's top two "Great Stone Faces" — a lighthearted nod to the men's notably large heads. The remarks circulated widely in government circles Sunday.

President Lee Jae Myung appointed Moon as senior presidential secretary for economic growth on Oct. 1, and sources inside the ministry said the farewell ceremony that followed was warmer and more festive than most.

The occasion marked the first time in 13 years that a sitting deputy minister had moved up to a senior government post rather than stepping down to head an affiliated agency — the last such case being Yoon Sang-jick, who was appointed minister under President Park Geun-hye in March 2013.

Moon's departure carried particular weight given his personal history with the ministry. A graduate of the 38th class of the civil service examination, Moon had served as director of nuclear energy industry policy under the Moon Jae-in administration and was indicted in connection with the early closure of the Wolsong Unit 1 nuclear power plant, forcing him to leave the ministry abruptly without even a proper farewell to colleagues. He had been the ministry's spokesperson in November 2020 when the investigation into the Wolsong closure began, and he spent the next three and a half years appearing in court before the Supreme Court acquitted him in May last year. He retired from the ministry in September 2024, then made a triumphant return when the Lee Jae Myung administration appointed him deputy minister in July last year, shortly after taking office.

Moon's farewell as deputy minister was therefore an especially emotional moment for him and his junior colleagues. Those present said eyes turned red more than once throughout the ceremony.

Han, a graduate of the 55th civil service examination class, first crossed paths with Moon when Moon was director-general of the nuclear energy bureau and Han was a junior official in the nuclear environment division. The two forged a bond of camaraderie this year while traveling together to Qatar, the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries to secure a stable crude oil supply for South Korea amid the regional conflict — at times facing genuine danger. During a trip to the UAE in March, shortly after the conflict escalated, Dubai International Airport came under attack and the plane carrying the two men was forced to make an emergency landing at a temporary site. It was for this reason that Han was chosen as the employee representative to deliver the farewell tribute on the day Moon left the ministry. Han was also selected for his reputation as someone who goes out of his way to connect with all ministry staff — including, sources said, treating cleaning workers to meals at his own expense.

In his tribute, Han said he was offering "a brief word of gratitude and respect" to Moon "as he departs in honor," adding that from the moment they first met in the nuclear energy bureau — Moon as director-general, Han as a junior official — Moon had "always led his juniors with a clear vision and warm, steadfast leadership."

Han said the period when he accompanied Moon on urgent trips to the Middle East amid the rapidly deteriorating regional situation would be "a moment I will never forget in my career as a public servant," adding: "In those hours when we worked around the clock, racing to solve the critical challenge of national energy security, I felt something beyond a simple deputy minister-to-division-director relationship — I felt true camaraderie."

Han also recalled that Moon had said upon taking office, "Let's discuss and deliberate on everything, and do it together," and said that in hindsight Moon had done exactly that — always working alongside staff in the field, listening directly to the voices of those the ministry's policies affected, and "standing firmly at the front to make sure his people didn't get hurt."

Moon Sin-hak (center), senior presidential secretary for economic growth at Cheong Wa Dae, greets ministry staff ahead of his farewell ceremony at Government Complex Sejong on Oct. 1. [Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy]

Han again expressed gratitude, saying he was "deeply thankful once more" for Moon's dedication "on the front lines of national energy security and as a steadfast pillar of the ministry," and added: "You are now setting off on a new path, but the sweat we shed together and the camaraderie we shared will remain in our hearts."

He went on to say that Moon's "sense of responsibility, dedication, and people-first leadership" would "be remembered by us juniors for a long time," and that no matter where Moon went, "we will never forget the spirit of always being together."

Han closed his tribute by asking Moon to "please remember, above all else: you were the pride of the ministry, and to us juniors, a sunbae we could boast of and a dependable pillar."

He then wished Moon "health and happiness in the new chapter ahead," and added: "And if you ever miss the ministry's Great Stone Face, come back anytime."

Han wrapped up by saying: "I will hold down the No. 1 spot for a while — but the crown is so heavy, I don't think I can hold out for long."

After listening to the tribute in full, Moon reportedly asked, "There are no reporters here, right?" — visibly reluctant to accept the No. 1 Great Stone Face designation — turning what had been a solemn, tearful ceremony into a moment of laughter, according to those present. Moon also took particular exception to the phrase "Great Stone Face" itself, asking that it be replaced with "mumoktaedu" — meaning a head so large it appears to have no neck — which only drew more laughs.

A government official in Sejong said the tears shed by Moon and his ministry colleagues throughout the ceremony reflected how well everyone present understood what Moon had been through: a three-and-a-half-year legal battle that ended in a full acquittal, followed by a triumphant return last year.

The official added that while the ceremony was a happy occasion — a promotion, after all — it could easily have turned solemn, but the exchange about the ministry's No. 1 and No. 2 Great Stone Faces brought the room to laughter. "The mood became even more festive when Moon asked that 'Great Stone Face' be changed to 'mumoktaedu,'" the official said.

oskymoon@heraldcorp.com