SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s President-elect Yoon Seol-yeol announced on April 3 that he intends to appoint a seasoned former prime minister and economic expert as his incoming government’s No. 2 official.
Yoon’s selection of Han Deok-soo as prime minister is the first major nomination for his government, which is scheduled to take office on May 10.
Executive power in South Korea is concentrated in the hands of the president, but if the president is incapacitated, the prime minister leads the country. The nomination of the prime minister 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, Mr. Han, 72, held a series of key positions such as trade minister, finance minister and prime minister. Under President Lee Myung-bak under the next conservative government, Han is South Korea’s ambassador to the United States.
Yoon described Han as “the right person” to lead the cabinet, citing his extensive administrative experience at a time when South Korea faces a “tough environment” at home and abroad. Han said he was both honored and burdened by the nomination.
Yoon, the conservative former top prosecutor who won the March 9 election, will succeed the current liberal President Moon Jae-in. Yoon’s main tasks include how to revive pandemic-hit livelihoods, address runaway housing and income equality issues, and deal with North Korea’s growing nuclear threat and growing competition between the U.S. and China.
Yoon is expected to nominate his candidates for foreign affairs, defense, finance and other ministers in the coming weeks.
