Kim Jeong-kwan, the nominee for Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "Industry and energy are inseparable," adding, "I will do my best to ensure that industry, trade, and energy can cooperate organically."
On the morning of the 30th, Kim arrived at the personnel hearing preparation office in Gangnam, Seoul, for his first day of work, responding to reporters' question about the establishment of a climate energy department, saying, "I understand that it is being discussed by the Presidential Committee on Policy Planning."
He stated, "As we prepare for the era of artificial intelligence (AI), if the brain is the semiconductor and data center, the heart is energy," and added, "Just as the heart and brain cannot be separated, I will do my best to ensure that industry, trade, and energy can cooperate organically."
Regarding the U.S.-Korea tariff negotiations, he said, "I became a public servant, and my first position was in the Industrial Tariff Division," adding, "I am not currently well informed about the specifics, but I will prepare to the best of my ability from the perspective that national interests are paramount, together with Yeo Han-koo, the head of the Trade Negotiation Headquarters."
When asked whether it is possible to achieve results before the U.S. imposes tariffs on July 9, he responded, "There is still insufficient information to answer that," and stated, "I will consider it from the perspective of our corporations and national interests."
In response to questions related to industry and exports, he remarked, "Crisis is a combination of crisis and opportunity," expressing, "I want to be at the forefront of Korea's exports."
He noted, "I worked in global marketing at a corporation," adding, "I know well how tirelessly corporations are breaking into overseas markets. Because I have shared the difficulties and struggles felt on the ground with those individuals, I will work together with them to pave the way."
Meanwhile, Kim is a former senior official at the Ministry of Economy and Finance and worked as the president of the marketing department at Doosan Enerbility (formerly Doosan Heavy Industries) until just before his ministerial nomination. Under his leadership, Doosan Enerbility participated in the procurement of a nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic as 'Team Korea.' If Kim passes the personnel hearing, he will become the first Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy from a current C-level corporate position, making it the first time a nuclear energy corporation has produced a Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.
In response to concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest in future nuclear energy-related projects, Kim stated, "I believe that the interests of corporations and the nation are the same," and added, "I do not think there will be any conflicts of interest, but I will be careful in my conduct."