Hong Ji-seon, the second vice minister at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) who was nominated as the next Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stressed on the first commute after the nomination that "we will quickly supply high-quality dwellings in preferred locations and raise the market's predictability and policy consistency."
Meeting reporters on the morning of the 31st, nominee Hong said, "I feel honored to be nominated as Minister while also feeling a heavy sense of responsibility and duty," adding, "If I am given the role of Minister, I will do my best to help build an irreplaceable Republic of Korea."
She then presented key policy directions: ▲ rapid supply of high-quality dwellings in preferred locations and housing stability for youth and newlyweds ▲ balanced national development through support for mega projects and expansion of transportation infrastructure ▲ full-fledged creation of outcomes in the future mobility industry ▲ thorough safety management.
Hong added, "Based on on-site experience built in Gyeonggi Province and expertise as the second vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), I will pursue practical policies that people can feel," and "I will approach the National Assembly confirmation hearing with humility, a low profile, and sincerity."
On this day, questions poured in on the way to work for Hong about measures to stabilize the Seoul metropolitan area dwellings market. Regarding this, she said, "Dwellings policy has a major impact on people's lives and market expectations, so above all, consistency and predictability are necessary," adding, "While swiftly implementing the dwellings supply released by the government, we will speed up so that the policy has execution power from actual groundbreaking on site through to move-in."
On dwellings supply plans where the positions of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the central government diverge—such as lifting greenbelt restrictions, using the Yongsan Park site, and reviewing the Tancheon Water Reclamation Center site—she placed weight on cooperation with local governments. Hong said, "Consultation with Seoul officials is more important than anything for the rapid supply of dwellings," while also noting, "From a nominee's position, it is difficult to speak directly about policy consultations with Seoul or individual policy items such as Tancheon."
Even so, she explained, "Having worked a long time in local government, I have ample experience with how central government policies are reflected and operate in the field," adding, "From the central government's policy formulation stage, we will conduct sufficient prior consultations with the Seoul Metropolitan Government so policies function properly on the ground."
Regarding the fifth national railway network construction plan and road network plan, she said, "We are currently carrying out benefit-cost (BC) analysis and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to some extent and are in the final consultation stage with fiscal authorities." Hong said, "We will hold public hearings in September and October on comprehensive development plans for the road network, railway network, and airports to inform citizens, and we expect all to be finalized around November through public notice."
Meanwhile, when asked whether there had been any separate communication with President Lee Jae-myung after the nomination, she answered, "I have not received any particular personal contact."
Born in Donghae, Gangwon, nominee Hong entered public service by passing the second round of the local civil service exam and became head of road policy at Gyeonggi Province in 2015. She served as director of the construction bureau in 2016, director of the railway bureau in 2018, and director of the railway, port, and logistics bureau in 2019. From 2020 to early 2023, she served as head of the Gyeonggi Province urban dwellings office, overseeing dwellings and urban policy.
While working in Gyeonggi Province, she led the "five key roads in northern Gyeonggi" project to expand the road network in the northern region. She was also involved in issues related to privately invested roads, including the Ilsan Bridge. In particular, she handled the practical design work for the "basic dwellings" initiative pursued when President Lee Jae-myung was governor of Gyeonggi Province.
In Jan. 2024, Hong moved to serve as vice mayor of Namyangju, overseeing overall municipal administration for about two years. She focused on on-site administration, including road construction and dwellings supply projects such as the third new towns, the extension of the Byeollae Line, and transfer centers. In Dec. last year, she was tapped as the second vice minister at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). It was considered unusual in that a figure with extensive hands-on experience in local government joined the second vice minister post, which had mainly been filled by internal officials at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT).