Women's business groups hail Han Sung-sook's nomination as prime minister

Women's business and venture industry groups welcomed the nomination of Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Sung-sook as the next prime minister candidate.

The Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association issued a statement Sunday praising Han as "a proven economic leader who headed one of Korea's top IT companies and steered small and medium-sized enterprise, small business, and venture and startup policy as the first SMEs minister under the Lee Jae Myung administration."

The association also highlighted Han's field-oriented leadership, noting that she conducted more than 150 on-site visits over the past year and ran a direct public suggestion channel called "Propose directly to the minister."

"Korea stands at a historic turning point — the great AI transformation," the association said. "Han, with her deep understanding of digital technology and hands-on experience with small businesses, is the right person to lead that transition."

The group urged Han to "spread the gains of the AI transformation not just to some, but to all — and to govern in a way that lets women-owned businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises, small business owners and neighborhood commercial districts all move forward together."

The association added that "the emergence of only the second female prime minister in 20 years is a meaningful milestone for women entrepreneurs," pledging to "actively cooperate toward a renewed leap for the Korean economy and shared growth in the AI era."

The Korea Venture Business Association also issued a statement welcoming the nomination, urging Han to "play a central role in creating an environment where private-sector risk-taking is properly rewarded," and stressing that "the venture community urgently needs regulatory rationalization and expanded venture investment."

Han is the second prime minister nominee under the Lee Jae Myung administration. President Lee nominated Han for the post Sunday, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik announced at a briefing. A native of Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, and a former chief executive of Naver, Han has served as the inaugural SMEs minister since the Lee administration took office, leading livelihood policies centered on small businesses and self-employed owners. If confirmed by the National Assembly, she would become only the second female prime minister in South Korean history, 20 years after Han Myeong-sook became the first.