The minister of education (Korean: 교육부 장관) of South Korea is the leader and chief executive of the Ministry of Education and a member of the State Council. The president nominates the minister of education upon the recommendation of the prime minister. All minister nominees are required to undergo congressional confirmation hearings, though the consent of the National Assembly is only necessary for the Prime Minister.
In January 2001, the Ministry of Education was reformed into the Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development; in February 2008, it was merged with the Ministry of Science & Technology to form the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology. In March 2013, the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology was split into the current Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.
In South Korea, the offices of the two deputy prime ministers are held by a member of the State Council. The minister of education and human resources development held the position of deputy prime minister from 2001 to 2008, during the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations. From 2014 to 2025, during the Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in, and Yoon Suk Yeol administrations, the minister of education held the position of deputy prime minister.