[단독] Shin Yong-hyun, a female scientist, to be the next Minister of Science and ICT

Shin Yong-hyeon, a female scientist, is being mentioned as the first Minister of Science and ICT under the Yun Seok-yeol administration. It is known that Ahn Cheol-soo, the leader of the People’s Party, who had unified with Yoon-elect at the last minute, is recommending former lawmaker Shin as the Minister of Science and ICT. In fact, if former lawmaker Shin becomes the Minister of Science and Technology, she will become the second female Minister of Science and Technology after Lim Hye-sook.

According to politicians on the 13th, it is highly likely that former lawmaker Shin will become the first Minister of Science and ICT in the next government. An official from the People’s Power said in a phone call with this magazine, “Internally, former lawmaker Shin is being discussed as the most likely candidate for the Minister of Science and ICT.”



Former lawmaker Shin served as the co-election chairperson of the People’s Party, helping Ahn in the 20th presidential election. Former Rep. Shin was selected as the person who will materialize the representative promises of Ahn, who put the ‘science president’ as the banner in reality.



Earlier, during the 2016 general election, former lawmaker Shin entered the National Assembly as the No. 1 proportional representative of the People’s Party. At the time, CEO Ahn Cheol-soo recruited Shin, former member of the Korea Institute of Standards and Science, after three high school years. Rep. Shin, a physicist, obtained master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from Yonsei University and Chungnam National University. She served as the president of the Korean Women in Science and Technology Association and the vice president of the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Organizations.



Former lawmaker Shin was active in the Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee (Gand Defense) and the Gender Equality and Family Committee in the 20th National Assembly. He was particularly interested in the empowerment of women scientists, she said. In March 2019, she proposed amendments to the Korean Science and Technology Personnel Act, the Ulsan Institute of Science and Technology Act amendment, the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Act amendment, and the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology amendment bill.



The bill recommends that the ratio of female professors at national and public universities be increased to 25%, but it is pointed out that the ratio of female professors in the institute is actually around 10%. The president was asked to establish an appointment plan so that there is no gender bias when hiring teachers, and the Minister of Science and ICT can evaluate it and apply for it. The bill actually passed the plenary session of the National Assembly and was applied to each Science and Technology Institute Act.



Ahn will serve as the chairperson of the Presidential Transition Committee (transfer committee) and will draw a sketch of the Yun government ahead of its inauguration on May 10. As President Ahn shows his expertise in science and information and communication technology (ICT), it is expected that Ahn’s voice will be strengthened in the minister’s recommendation in related fields.



An official from People’s Power said, “CEO Ahn can claim about three ministerial positions. In the science and technology field, CEO Ahn’s network is wide and good in both quantity and quality, so it is a situation that can be argued sufficiently,” he said. The three ministerial positions requested by Ahn are known as the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Ministry of Education.



However, it is not expected that there will be a cabinet announcement immediately. When the transition committee is inaugurated, the Blue House will first organize its personnel. Cabinet announcements are usually made after the Blue House has completed the staffing.

reporter information

Shin Seung-hoon

shs@ajunews.com

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