Following North Korea’s demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong on June 16, South Korea’s then-unification minister, Kim Yeon-chul, quickly announced he would take responsibility and stepped down.

The decision to appoint lawmaker Lee In-young as his successor came as a surprise to many, and some have struggled to interpret his appointment.

Lee was nominated alongside three other heavyweights in the realm of inter-Korean relations, making him appear something of a dwarf among giants.

Im Jeong-seok, formerly the first chief of staff for President Moon Jae-in, was appointed special advisor on