Ha Jung-woo, a former Blue House senior secretary for AI future planning, is returning as deputy chair of the presidential National AI Strategy Committee. The appointment is seen as reflecting his expertise in AI policy, but it is also expected to revive controversy over a "revolving door" appointment as he takes a key government post again after losing an election.

President Lee Jae-myung on Saturday nominated Ha as deputy chair of the National AI Strategy Committee. Chaired by the president, the committee is the top public-private cooperation body that deliberates and coordinates national AI policy and strategy.

Ha's return to government comes about 4 months after he stepped down. As the Lee government's first senior secretary for AI, he was nicknamed "Ha GPT" while in the post and was even described as the president's key AI confidant. He was also involved in designing major policies, including the government's goal of becoming one of the world's three leading AI powers and plans to foster AI infrastructure and industry.

Ha resigned on April 27 and ran in a parliamentary by-election in Busan's Buk-gu Gap constituency. He lost the election. Ha was defeated by independent candidate Han Dong-hoon in the June 3 vote.

Speculation about his return emerged immediately after his defeat. When talk of his return surfaced not long after the election ended, criticism came mainly from the opposition, calling it a "revolving door" appointment to rescue an unsuccessful candidate. Criticism grew further as talk spread that he could become the next minister after former Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups Minister Han Sung-sook was appointed prime minister.

With his move to a key government post decided about two months later, Ha can no longer avoid the criticism raised at the time. A senior aide responsible for government AI policy stepped down mid-term to run for office and, after losing, is now set to take a core post at the president's AI control tower.

Others say his reappointment was unavoidable given his expertise and the need for policy continuity. They cite his experience leading AI technology development in the private sector, including at Naver, and overseeing the current government's AI policy as its first senior AI secretary.

Even at the briefing announcing the appointment, there were reactions that the selection of Ha as deputy chair could draw criticism as a "revolving door" appointment. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik (강훈식) said, "He is recognized for on-site expertise as an AI expert," adding, "As the person who launched the National AI Strategy Committee, he also knows the relevant matters accurately and well."