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South Korea Names New Leaders for Financial and Antitrust Agencies

By  |  August 13, 2025

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has nominated new chiefs to head three of the nation’s most influential economic regulatory bodies, in a move aimed at bolstering oversight and improving policy execution across the finance and competition sectors. The reshuffle includes the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), and the Fair Trade Commission (FTC).

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    According to a statement from the presidential office, Lee Eog-weon, a special economics professor at Seoul National University and former first vice finance minister, has been selected to lead the FSC. Lee, who was born in 1967, is a veteran economic policymaker with experience in both the finance ministry and presidential office, including as economic policy secretary under former President Moon Jae-in. He played a key role in coordinating South Korea’s economic response during the COVID-19 downturn, per the statement.

    For the top position at the FSS, the government nominated Lee Chan-jin, a lawyer and head of the first social affairs subcommittee at the state affairs planning commission. Born in 1964, Lee studied law at Seoul National University and attended the Judicial Research and Training Institute alongside President Lee. He has previously served as vice president of the progressive group Lawyers for a Democratic Society and as executive director at People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. His past legal work includes representing President Lee in high-profile cases, including one related to alleged illicit payments to North Korea. The FSS governor role has been vacant since June following Lee Bok-hyun’s departure.

    Read more: South Korea’s Antitrust Watchdog Raided in Expanding Probe Into Former First Lady

    In another key appointment, Ju Biung-ghi, an economics professor at Seoul National University, has been nominated to head the FTC, which oversees the country’s competition policy. According to the presidential office, these leadership changes are part of a wider reshuffle involving six senior government and agency positions.

    The administration has framed the overhaul as a strategic effort to reinforce regulatory leadership at a time of slowing economic growth and heightened global uncertainty.

    Source: KED Global