New S Korean President s call for public to suggest Cabinet members more than a populist move

SEOUL - K-pop singer IU for Cultural Minister?

How about Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho of the Parasite movie fame or even popular show host Yoo Jae-suk?

A crowdsourcing exercise by the administration of the new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, seeking public inputs towards the forming of its new Cabinet, has yielded these amusing results, along with more considered suggestions.

Mr Lee, who took office on June 4, had mooted the crowdsourcing idea as a “meaningful first step towards the people becoming the main actors in running the state”.

The 62-year-old former human rights lawyer was elected on June 3 in a snap election after the ouster of former president Yoon Suk Yeol over the botched martial law attempt of Dec 3, 2024.

Given the lack of a transition period unlike usual elections, Mr Lee has been working with the old Cabinet of his predecessor Yoon, while taking steps to form his own Cabinet.

While the unusual crowdsourcing exercise is widely seen as a populist move, observers say that it is a shrewd decision by Mr Lee in more ways than one.

“Through this public nomination system, Mr Lee is able to not only cater to his supporters by giving them a voice, but also buy time to vet nominations thoroughly before formalising his Cabinet,” said Kyonggi University political science and law lecturer Hahm Sung-deuk.

In his social media post on June 10 promoting the initiative, President Lee said that the process marks the beginning of a “national sovereign government” and pledged transparency and fairness in ensuring that only “truly qualified people” are selected.

The public nominations were open from June 10 to 16, allowing South Koreans to submit their choice of Cabinet ministers, vice-ministers or heads of public institutions along with supporting reasons, via a dedicated