SEOUL — President Lee Jae-myung has appointed K-pop mogul and singer Park Jin-young to co-chair a new presidential committee on pop culture exchange, a position with the rank of a minister. The move is seen as a strategic effort to further globalize Korean culture.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik announced the appointments, stating that Park, the founder of JYP Entertainment, is one of Korea’s most prominent cultural figures and has been a driving force behind the global spread of K-pop.

"Park Jin-young has made significant contributions to the globalization of K-pop," Kang said. He emphasized that the committee's mission is to help create a "culturally blooming South Korea" by allowing people worldwide to enjoy more of its pop culture, while also providing opportunities for Koreans to experience diverse foreign cultures.

The new Presidential Committee on Pop Culture Exchange is directly under the president's office, underscoring the administration's commitment to leveraging soft power through cultural exports. This new role places Park at the heart of national cultural policy, where he will likely be tasked with initiatives to promote Korean music, film, and media on the global stage.

In addition to Park's appointment, the administration also named Lee Seok-yeon, a former Minister of Government Legislation, as the new chairman of the Presidential Committee for National Unity, a position with the rank of deputy prime minister.

Other key personnel changes announced include the creation of a new Chief Secretary for Personnel position within the presidential office, with Cho Sung-joo, the head of the Korea Legislation Research Institute, nominated for the role. Furthermore, Wi Chul-hwan, a former president of the Korean Bar Association and a classmate of President Lee from the Judicial Research and Training Institute, was appointed to the National Election Commission.

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