Yeo Han-koo, Trade Chief Serving as Practical Control Tower, Dismissed

▲ Former Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo

Yeo Han-koo, the Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who has served as the practical control tower for major trade issues such as the South Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations last year, has been dismissed.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that, effective midnight today (the 15th), "Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo has been relieved of his duties by dismissal in accordance with the personnel measures of the appointing authority."

Former Minister Yeo served as the Director-General for Trade Policy and later as the Minister for Trade during the Moon Jae-in administration, and was reappointed as the Minister for Trade with the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration.

As Minister Yeo's dismissal comes at a time when sensitive trade issues are piled up, such as the United States Section 301 investigation and the Coupang issue, attention has focused on the background. However, an official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated, "Political appointments fall under the authority and political judgment of the appointing authority, so it is inappropriate for the ministry to comment on the background," adding, "(We) are making every effort to ensure that there are no disruptions to trade issues [due to the dismissal of the Minister for Trade]."

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