Parliamentary approval is required, but the ruling party’s majority in the 300-seat National Assembly makes confirmation likely absent major ethical concerns.

Han Seong-sook was born on June 20, 1968, and would be 58 at the time of the reporting.

Her reported net worth is around 44 billion won (about $32 million USD).

South Korea’s president has nominated Han Seong-sook, former Naver CEO and current minister for SMEs and startups, to serve as prime minister to propel the country’s AI-driven economic agenda.

If confirmed, Han would become the second woman to hold the post, following Han Myeong-sook who served in 2006–2007.

The nomination signals a possible shift toward AI-focused governance, with Han’s background at Naver seen as a practical bridge to addressing data access, cloud capacity, procurement, and labor training for startups.

Election-related turmoil included ballot shortages at multiple polling stations and the resignation of the head of the state election watchdog.

Observers will watch for concrete policy signals, including AI funding for seed and growth stages, open public data and cloud access for startups, and government procurement rules to help startups sell to the state.

The nomination follows the ruling party’s local election momentum, despite a setback in the Seoul mayoral race and the ballot-shortage controversy.

The move reflects a regional trend in Asia to operationalize AI through coordinated government action, procurement rules, and startup support beyond traditional chip-centric leadership.

From 2017 to 2021, she was listed among Fortune’s 50 Most Powerful Women in International Business; she stepped down as CEO in 2021 and entered politics in 2025 as the minister of SMEs and startups.

South Korea’s AI Basic Act, effective January 2026, provides a framework for policy planning and trust in AI, and Han’s role would balance regulatory clarity with the needs of innovation.