Bank of Korea names international finance expert Kwon Min-su deputy governor

The Bank of Korea has appointed Kwon Min-su, its assistant governor for international finance and cooperation, as the central bank's new deputy governor.

According to the Bank of Korea on Thursday, Kwon was born in Seoul and graduated from Whimoon High School and Yonsei University with a degree in business administration before joining the bank in 1995. He later earned a master's degree in business administration from Yale University while in service.

Kwon is widely regarded as one of the bank's foremost international finance specialists, having served as head of the foreign exchange market team in the international department, head of the foreign reserve planning division and director of the foreign reserve management center.

Since his appointment as assistant governor in May 2024, he has overseen international finance and cooperation affairs, including foreign exchange market stabilization measures. He has also been active at major international institutions, including the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).

The Bank of Korea described him as "a leading expert in foreign exchange and international finance who has earned recognition for outstanding capabilities, expertise and contributions through long years of service at the foreign reserve management center and the international department."

The deputy governor is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the governor. Kwon's term runs from Friday through Aug. 20, 2029 — three years in total.

The deputy governor also serves as an ex officio member of the Monetary Policy Board. Kwon will join the board starting with its monetary policy direction meeting on Aug. 27, and will take part in benchmark interest rate decisions from that session onward.

The Bank of Korea said it expects Kwon to "play a significant role in representing Korea's position in the international financial community and enhancing its standing, drawing on his extensive knowledge of Korea's foreign exchange market and overseas asset management as well as the broad network he has built over many years with domestic financial institutions, major global investors and international organizations."