Seoul: President Lee Jae-myung has appointed vice ministers of finance, foreign affairs, and industry, as well as the country’s top trade negotiator, the presidential office announced Tuesday. The appointments come as Lee prepares for his diplomatic debut at the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, Lee Hyoung-il, commissioner of Statistics Korea, has been named first vice finance minister, while Lim Ki-keun, administrator of the Public Procurement Service, was tapped as second vice finance minister. Yeo Han-koo, who previously served as trade minister under the Moon Jae-in administration, was named chief trade negotiator.

Park Yoon-joo, minister at South Korea’s mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was appointed as first vice foreign minister. Kim Jina, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, was tapped as second vice foreign minister. Additionally, Moon Shin-hak, noted for leading the previous administration’s nuclear phase-out policy, was chosen as the first vice minister of industry.

The presidential office emphasized that these appointments highlight President Lee’s commitment to revitalizing the economy and enhancing high-level diplomacy. As Lee prepares to attend the G7 summit, his government has formed a new lineup of foreign affairs experts to safeguard national interests, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

President Lee, who assumed office following his victory in the June 3 election, has not yet nominated ministers. The election was held after the ousting of President Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed martial law bid. While it is expected to take several weeks to form a new Cabinet, as nominees must undergo parliamentary confirmation hearings, Kim Min-seok, Lee’s election campaign chief, has been nominated as prime minister.