Lee weighs Kang Hoon-sik, Jeong Seong-ho for prime minister, nomination expected this weekend

President Lee Jae Myung is in the final stages of deliberation over his next prime minister, weighing presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik and Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho as the leading candidates to succeed Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.

The ruling party's victory in the June 3 local elections has given Lee momentum heading into his second year in office, but the loss of the Seoul mayoral race has added pressure to find a prime minister capable of steering a recalibrated governing agenda.

Lee is expected to name his nominee for prime minister this weekend, according to political sources Friday.

Before that, Kim is expected to submit his resignation to run as a candidate for Democratic Party leader at the party's national convention.

Kang and Jeong have emerged as the frontrunners for the post.

Lee recently met separately with both men to gauge their willingness to serve, sources said.

The two candidates are seen as bringing distinct strengths to the role.

Kang has served as the inaugural presidential chief of staff under the Lee administration, playing a central role in helping the government quickly establish its operational footing after taking office without a presidential transition committee — a consequence of the emergency martial law declaration and the subsequent presidential impeachment. Beyond his administrative role, Kang is regarded as a man of execution. As the president's special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, he has personally handled issues in defense, energy, resources, supply chains and advanced industries, and has taken a prominent role in overseas trips and economic diplomacy in support of the government's strategic projects.

Jeong, a five-term Democratic Party lawmaker, is one of Lee's closest political allies — widely described as the senior figure of the pro-Lee camp. The two were classmates in the 18th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute and are said to have maintained a political partnership spanning nearly two decades.

Since the government took office, Jeong has led the push for prosecutorial reform, one of Lee's core policy priorities. He is widely praised for his broad network within the National Assembly and his ability to communicate across party lines — bridging the ruling party, the Cabinet, Cheong Wa Dae and the opposition alike. Political circles regard him as someone who understands Lee's governing philosophy better than anyone and can coordinate inter-ministry affairs while fostering bipartisan cooperation.

Political observers say the final choice may hinge on whether Lee opts to push reform aggressively in his second year or prioritize stable governance and cross-party cooperation.

Kang's edge lies in his ability to resolve pressing issues and drive implementation, while Jeong's strength is seen as political mediation and coordination.

Alongside the prime ministerial appointment, a Cabinet reshuffle covering roughly four ministries — including Health and Welfare, Foreign Affairs, Land and Infrastructure, and Culture, Sports and Tourism — is also expected. Should Jeong be named prime minister, the Justice Ministry would be added to the list.

Attention is also turning to a potential reorganization of the presidential staff, as several Cheong Wa Dae aides ran in the local elections, leaving vacancies that have persisted for months. The departure of former spokespersons Kim Nam-jun and Jeon Eun-su to run in the elections has left Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung as the sole spokesperson for an extended period, and a new spokesperson is expected to be appointed soon. The seat vacated by Ha Jung-woo, the former senior secretary for AI and future planning, who also ran in the elections, is another position to watch — with Kim Woo-chang, the national AI policy secretary, mentioned as a potential successor.

The scope of changes at the senior secretary level is also drawing scrutiny. Political circles expect at least three of the seven senior secretaries — excluding the AI post — to be replaced. Some aides have already informally indicated their wish to return to their original posts. Whether the national security office and other foreign affairs and security positions will also be reshuffled remains another point of interest.

At a senior secretaries' meeting he chaired Thursday, Lee reaffirmed his determination to accelerate his governing agenda in his second year. Analysts say the staff reorganization following the local elections is likely to reflect that same drive for renewal — a bid, as it has been described, to "change horses" and generate fresh momentum.