President Lee Establishes Youth Future Secretary Role, Appoints Former Google Executive

President Lee Jae-myung has created a new Youth Future Secretary position within the presidential office, appointing Kim Tae-won, a former executive at Google Korea and current co-CEO of the advertising firm Innored. Kim began his duties on July 16th.

The Youth Future Secretary will operate under the Presidential Chief of Staff. The previous Youth Affairs division, which was under the National Integration Secretary, will now be integrated into this new role. This move signifies the first establishment of a dedicated youth secretary position since the Moon Jae-in administration, indicating a renewed focus on addressing the concerns of young people.

The creation of the position comes amid growing alienation among the youth demographic. The administration appears to be seeking a more direct channel to understand and incorporate the perspectives of young citizens into policy-making and to formulate effective strategies to address their issues. Kim Tae-won, with his extensive background in marketing and his 18 years at Google, including roles as managing director and executive director at Google Korea, brings a wealth of experience in communication and strategy to the new role.

Kim joined Innored, an independent advertising company, in 2024. His appointment is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the presidential office's engagement with younger generations, aiming to bridge the gap between the government and the youth and to foster policies that resonate with their needs and aspirations.