President Lee Jae-myung on the 28th appointed Kim Jong-gu, director general for food policy, as Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Vice Minister Kim is a career agriculture official and a policy expert with extensive on-the-ground experience and knowledge of the agri-food industry.
Vice Minister Kim was born in Nov. 1968 in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, graduated from Neungin High School, and studied applied microbiology at Yeungnam University. He then completed a master's program in international economics at Kyungpook National University. He entered public service through the 33rd technical civil service exam.
At the Agriculture Ministry, he served as director general for distribution and consumption policy, director general for rural policy, director general for agricultural innovation policy, and director general for food policy. He handled policies ranging from agricultural product distribution and consumption to rural policy, agricultural restructuring, and food supply and demand.
Lee Gyu-yeon, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communications, said, "Vice Minister Kim has outstanding ability to coordinate the views of diverse stakeholders based on smooth communication skills," adding, "He is the right person to carry out a responsible grand shift in agricultural policy, including building an income safety net for farm households and expanding exports of 'K-food Plus.'"