President Yoon Suk Yeol has nominated Kim Moon-soo as the new labor minister, succeeding Lee Jung-sik. Kim, a seasoned conservative politician and former labor activist, is currently the chair of the presidential advisory body, the Economic, Social, and Labor Council. His nomination is expected to face criticism from the Democratic Party due to past controversial remarks, particularly about some party members being labeled as pro-North Korea. Kim, 72, has had a notable career in South Korea's labor movement and politics, serving as a conservative lawmaker and as the governor of Gyeonggi Province. President Yoon's chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, stated that Kim's experience in labor, legislation, and administration make him suitable for the role of labor minister, especially in driving labor reform. Kim has emphasized his priority to protect marginalized workers and has acknowledged the positive impact of the Yoon administration's labor reform efforts. The nomination of Kim by President Yoon has drawn criticism from opposition parties and labor unions, with concerns raised about Kim's past remarks and his potential impact on labor rights improvement. Additionally, President Yoon also made other diplomatic appointments, nominating Choe Hyoung-chan as the head of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and Sim Seung-seob as the ambassador to Australia.