New Minister of the Interior and Safety Vows to Protect Citizens' Lives and Safety

On July 25, 2025, Yoon Ho-jung (윤호중), the newly appointed Minister of the Interior and Safety, delivered his inaugural speech at the Sejong Government Complex. He emphasized the government's fundamental duty to safeguard the lives and safety of its citizens. In his address, he acknowledged the complex crises currently facing the nation, including low economic growth, recession, population decline, increasing polarization between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, the threat of local extinction, and unpredictable extreme weather events and disasters.

To address these challenges, Minister Yoon pledged to enhance the capabilities of his department, stating that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety must evolve to effectively fulfill its responsibilities. He committed to a proactive approach in disaster response and safety management, promising to reassess all aspects from on-site inspections to improving response systems and developing industries and workforce. He also highlighted the need for deeper and broader considerations for future disasters, ensuring quicker and more comprehensive support for recovery efforts.

Additionally, Minister Yoon expressed his intention to focus on improving livelihoods and revitalizing local communities. He stated, 'We will not miss the golden opportunity for economic recovery. We will collaborate with local governments, businesses, and citizens, using financial resources to restore a virtuous economic cycle.' He also mentioned the importance of fostering mature local governance where central and local governments work together to address national issues and empower residents to solve local problems.

Furthermore, he stressed the need to accelerate the transition to artificial intelligence (AI) in government operations. Minister Yoon declared, 'We will advance towards a capable and efficient AI democratic government by leading the public AI transition and fundamentally innovating the paradigm of public administration to maximize government capabilities and efficiency.'

In conclusion, he assured that the new government would always be open to the public, stating, 'The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will strive to become a 'Happiness and Safety Ministry' that truly takes responsibility for the happiness and safety of the people.' This appointment marks the end of a seven-month leadership vacancy in the ministry, following President Lee Jae-myung's (이재명) approval of Yoon's appointment on July 19.