Lee promotes Korea Forest Service acting chief as new head

▲ Park Eun-sik, new chief of the Korea Forest Service, speaks during a wildfire response meeting held at the agency's disaster response center in the central city of Daejeon on Feb. 28, 2026, in this photo provided by the agency. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Lee-forest service chief

Lee promotes Korea Forest Service acting chief as new head

SEOUL, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung has appointed the current vice chief of the Korea Forest Service as the agency's new head, Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday, a week after the former chief was dismissed over drunk driving.

Park Eun-sik was promoted to the top post, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing, filling the vacancy left after former chief Kim In-ho was fired last week.

Park has served in various key positions within the agency and recently led on-site firefighting efforts to contain wildfires in South Gyeongsang Province.

The prompt appointment came as authorities are stepping up efforts to contain wildfires in the country's central and southern regions.

"As the post is closely related to public safety, the new head of the Korea Forest Service was appointed swiftly," Kang said, expressing hope for strengthened preparedness against spring wildfires.

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