1. Personal Background
Lee Kwan-sub was born on July 12, 1961, in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
2. Education
Lee Kwan-sub completed his high school education at Kyeongbuk High School. He then pursued higher education at Seoul National University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Furthering his studies, he obtained a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University in the United States.
3. Early Public Service Career
Lee Kwan-sub began his extensive career in public service after successfully passing the 27th civil service examination in 1983. His first appointment was as an administrative officer within the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 1984. From April 1996 to October 2000, he served as an administrator (secretary-level) in the Presidential Office, working within the General Coordination Office and the Education and Culture Senior Secretary's Office. He later transitioned to the Ministry of Planning and Budget, where he served as the Head of the Management Support Group within the Public Innovation Headquarters from April 2007 to March 2008.
4. Career in Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
Lee Kwan-sub dedicated a significant portion of his career to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and its predecessor organizations. From October 2000 to January 2005, he served as the Director of the Digital Electronics Industry Division within the Ministry of Industry and Resources. Concurrently, from May 2003 to January 2005, he also led the Radioactive Waste Team within the same ministry. He continued his progression within the Ministry of Industry and Resources, serving as the Head of the Industrial Technology Policy Team from January 2005 to April 2007, and as Deputy Director-General of the Industrial Technology Policy Team from April 2006 to April 2007.
Following the reorganization of ministries, Lee moved to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, where he held several key positions: Industrial Economy Policy Officer from September 2009 to January 2010, and Energy Industry Policy Officer from January 2010 to May 2011. From January 2012 to March 2013, he served as the Director of the Energy and Resources Office within the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. With the establishment of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, he continued as Director of the Energy and Resources Office from March to April 2013. He then became the Director of the Industrial Policy Office from April 2013 to July 2014. His tenure culminated in his appointment as the First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, a position he held from July 2014 until August 2016.
5. Service in the Presidential Office
Lee Kwan-sub held several influential roles within the Presidential Office, contributing significantly to policy and state affairs planning. From March 2008 to September 2009, he served as a Senior Administrative Officer in the Presidential Office.
Under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, Lee was appointed to the newly created position of Senior Secretary to the President for Policy Planning in August 2022, a role he held until September 2022. Following a reorganization, he transitioned to the role of Senior Secretary to the President for State Affairs Planning, serving from September 2022 to November 2023. Subsequently, from November to December 2023, he served as the Chief of Staff for Policy within the Presidential Office.
6. Key Positions Held
Lee Kwan-sub's career is marked by his leadership in significant public and quasi-public organizations, including a major state-owned enterprise and the highest administrative office in the presidential system.
6.1. President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power
From November 2016 to January 2018, Lee Kwan-sub served as the President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), a state-owned company responsible for nuclear power generation in South Korea. During his tenure, in January 2017, he also assumed the role of President of the World Nuclear Power Plant Operators Association. His leadership at KHNP coincided with significant national debate regarding nuclear energy policy, particularly concerning the Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant Units 5 and 6.
6.2. Chief of Staff to the President
In December 2023, Lee Kwan-sub was appointed as the Chief of Staff to the President, succeeding Kim Dae-ki. In this high-level position, he was responsible for overseeing the entire operations of the Presidential Office and coordinating policy initiatives across various government branches. He served in this capacity until April 2024, when he resigned from the position.
7. Major Activities and Controversies
A notable period in Lee Kwan-sub's career involved his stance during the public discussion process concerning the permanent shutdown of Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant Units 5 and 6. While serving as President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, he took an opposing position to the then-government's policy direction on the matter. This period highlighted the complex interplay between energy policy, public opinion, and environmental concerns, with Lee advocating for a position that differed from the government's anti-nuclear stance at the time.
8. Other Professional Activities
Beyond his direct government roles, Lee Kwan-sub has also contributed to various other professional and advisory capacities. From June 2011 to January 2012, he served as a Senior Specialist for the Grand National Party. He also held positions in the private sector and non-profit organizations, including serving as an Outside Director and Audit Committee Member at E-mart from March 2019 to March 2021. During his time at E-mart, he also chaired the Outside Director Candidate Recommendation Committee and was a member of the Social Contribution Committee. Additionally, he served as a Director for the Korean Peninsula Advanced Foundation from April 2020 to August 2022 and as the Executive Vice President of the Korea International Trade Association from March 2021 to August 2022.
9. Assessment and Impact
Lee Kwan-sub's career reflects a trajectory of a seasoned public servant who rose through the ranks of various economic and energy ministries to hold some of the most influential positions in the South Korean government. His long tenure in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and its predecessors, culminating in a Vice Minister role, underscores his deep expertise in industrial and energy policy. His subsequent appointments as President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and multiple senior roles within the Presidential Office, including Chief of Staff, demonstrate his significant influence on national policy and administration, particularly during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. His involvement in the Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant debate also highlights his engagement with critical national issues and his willingness to express independent views on policy matters.