SEOUL, South Korea (Korea Bizwire) — President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea announced on Sunday that he intends to appoint a seasoned former prime minister and economic expert as the country’s No. 2 official in his incoming administration.
Yoon’s selection of Han Duck-soo as prime minister is the first major nomination in his government, which will take office on May 10.
South Korea’s executive power is concentrated in the hands of the president, but if the president becomes incapacitated, the country is led by the prime minister. A prime ministerial nomination requires parliamentary approval.
When South Korea was governed by back-to-back liberal presidents, Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, from 1998 to 2008, Han, 72, held a string of top positions including trade minister, finance minister, and prime minister. Han served as South Korea’s ambassador to the United States during President Lee Myung-next bak’s conservative administration.
Yoon described Han as “the right person” to lead his Cabinet, citing his extensive administrative experience at a time when South Korea is confronted with “grave environments” both at home and abroad. The nomination has both honored and burdened Han, he said.
Yoon, a former top prosecutor who won the March 9 election, will succeed Moon Jae-in, the current liberal president.
Yoon’s top priorities include reviving pandemic-affected livelihoods, addressing skyrocketing housing prices and income inequality, and dealing with North Korea’s growing nuclear threats and intensifying competition with the US and China.
In the coming weeks, Yoon is expected to name his nominees for foreign, defense, finance, and other ministerial positions.
This story has been updated to reflect that South Korea’s previous liberal policies were in place from 1998 to 2008.
Source: ABC
