Han Seong-sook

Han Seong-sook
Han in 2026
50th Prime Minister of South Korea
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 July 2026
PresidentLee Jae Myung
Deputy
Preceded byKim Min-seok
Minister of SMEs and Startups
In office
23 July 2025 – 30 June 2026
PresidentLee Jae Myung
Prime MinisterKim Min-seok
Preceded byOh Young-ju
Succeeded byNoh Yong-seok (acting)
Personal details
Born (1967-06-20) 20 June 1967
Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
PartyIndependent
EducationSookmyung Women's University (BA)
OccupationBusiness executive
Known for
Former CEO of Naver Corporation
SignatureSignature of Han Seong-sook
Korean name
Hangul
한성숙
Hanja
韓聖淑
RRHan Seongsuk
MRHan Sŏngsuk

Han Seong-sook (Korean: 한성숙; born 20 June 1967) is a South Korean businesswoman and politician[1] who has served as the prime minister of South Korea since 2026.[2] She was previously the chief executive officer (CEO) of Naver Corporation from 2017 to 2021 and served as the minister of SMEs and startups from 2025 to 2026. She is the first woman to hold the position since Han Myeong-sook in 2006, 20 years ago.

Early life and education

Han Seong-sook was born on 20 June 1967 in Gyeonggi Province. She received a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Sookmyung Women's University in 1989.[3]

Career

Early career

In 1989, Han began working as a reporter at Mincom. She later reported for PC Line. In 1995, she led public relations for Nanum Technology.[4][1][3]

In 1997, Han was a founding member of Empas,[4] one of South Korea's most popular search engines in the early 2000s, and led its search business.[5] After Empas was sold to SK Communications in 2007,[6] Han began to serve in executive roles at Naver under its original incarnation as NHN Corporation.[3]

In 2017, Han, a vice president at the time,[7] became CEO of Naver Corporation after Kim Sang-hun stepped down from the role. As the company's first female CEO, Han lead the development of Naver Pay and V Live and Naver's acquisition of Wattpad.[8][9]

In 2021, Han stepped down as CEO after a Naver employee committed suicide, citing workplace bullying as the motive,[5][10] and was replaced by Choi Soo-yeon.[11] Han later led Naver's expansion in Europe.[12]

Premiership (2026–present)

Han Seong-sook
Han in 2026
Premiership of Han Seong-sook
1 July 2026 – present
CabinetFull list
PartyIndependent
SeatSejong City

Appointment

On 7 June 2026, President Lee Jae Myung nominated Han to succeed Kim Min-seok as Prime Minister.[13] Preparation for her confirmation hearing began on 8 June.[14] The two-day confirmation hearing was held on 25 and 26 June.[15]

On 30 June 2026, Han was confirmed as prime minister by the National Assembly, with 166 votes in favor and one invalid vote. The People Power Party boycotted the vote.[16] She became the second female prime minister in South Korean history, following Han Myeong-sook, who served as Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007.[17] She is also the first business executive to assume the position of prime minister.[18] Her term as prime minister began on 1 July 2026, following the approval of National Assembly's appointment by President Lee.[19]

Tenure

Since taking office on 1 July 2026, Han has focused her tenure on making AI transformation a central government priority, expanding AI-based government systems and increasing the use of public data for AI development. She has also pushed for greater investment in AI and advanced industries, while seeking to remove regulations that could hinder technological innovation.[20][21]

Han has additionally prioritized economic stability and inflation control, directing the government to closely monitor prices of essential goods and respond to pressures from high oil prices, a weaker won and rising consumer costs.[22]

Recognition

From 2017 to 2021, Fortune included Han on its "Most Powerful Women International" list.[23][24][5] In 2018, Han was listed on Forbes' "The Emergent 25 Asia's Latest Star Businesswomen" list.[25]

References

  1. 1 2 이규연 (27 September 2021). "[Who Is ?] 한성숙 네이버 대표이사". 비즈니스포스트 (in Korean). Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "South Korea parliament confirms former Naver CEO Han Seong-sook as prime minister". Reuters. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Kim, Young-min. "중앙시사매거진". J Magazine. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 Ja-young, Yoon (21 October 2016). "Glass ceiling shattered at Naver". The Korea Times. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Lee, Dong-won (4 January 2023). "스카이데일리, '1위 검색엔진 네이버' 한성숙, 유럽사업개발 활로 개척". Skye Daily. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  6. ↑ Ramirez, Elaine (18 November 2016). "Women's Entrepreneurship Day: A Look At South Korea's Female Leaders In Tech". Forbes. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "Naver vice president tapped as new chief executive". Yonhap News Agency. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  8. ↑ Kim, Jim-hee (22 November 2016). "New Naver chief looks to upgrade technologies". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  9. ↑ "Wattpad to be sold to South Korean internet giant for $600M US". CBC. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  10. ↑ Jung, Da-min (28 May 2021). "Naver employee found dead after suspected workplace bullying". The Korea Times. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  11. ↑ Watson, Rana Wehbe (7 November 2022). "Asia's Power Businesswomen 2022". Forbes. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  12. ↑ Lim, Young-shin; Hwang, Soon-min; Cho, Jeehyun (17 March 2022). "Naver's ex-CEO Han Seong-sook to command business expansion in Europe". Pulse (in Korean). Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "SME minister Han Seong-sook tapped as new PM". The Korea Times. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Yongjun, Cho (8 June 2026). "[Photo] Han Seong-sook, Prime Minister Nominee, Arrives for First Day at Work". The Asian Business Daily. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "(LEAD) PM nominee undergoes confirmation hearing amid controversies over data leak, multiple homes". Yonhap News Agency. 25 June 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "(LEAD) National Assembly passes confirmation motion for PM nominee". Yonhap News Agency. 30 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Lee taps SME minister Han Seong-sook for PM". The Korea Herald. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "[프로필] 한성숙 신임 국무총리…AI·플랫폼 전문가에서 국정 2인자로". 뉴스1 (in Korean). 30 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "이 대통령, 한성숙 임명안 재가…역대 두 번째 여성 총리". NewsTomato.com (in Korean). 1 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "(LEAD) PM nominee undergoes confirmation hearing amid controversies over data leak, multiple homes". Yonhap News Agency. 25 June 2026. Retrieved 29 June 2026.
  21. ↑ https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-forecasts-2026-economic-growth-5-year-high-ai-chip-boom-2026-07-14/
  22. ↑ https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-forecasts-2026-economic-growth-5-year-high-ai-chip-boom-2026-07-14/
  23. ↑ "Han Seong-Sook | 2021 Most Powerful Women International". Fortune. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  24. ↑ "Han Seong-Sook". Fortune. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  25. ↑ "Han Seong-sook". Forbes. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
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