President Lee Jae Myung appointed Park Jung-sung, formerly vice trade minister, as South Korea’s new trade minister on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Park replaces Yeo Han-koo, who was dismissed the previous week for unknown reasons, and will immediately lead negotiations with Washington over Korea’s strategic investment pledge in the United States. The appointment requires neither parliamentary approval nor a confirmation hearing. Seoul officials have described the talks as showing meaningful progress, with additional details on the investment projects expected next month. Park brings nearly three decades of trade-policy experience, including senior roles in tariff and investment negotiations with the United States and World Trade Organization investment-facilitation talks. The new report identifies his ministry as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, while earlier records identified it as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.