South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday announced his intent to name a seasoned former prime minister and economic expert to serve as the country’s No. 2 official under his incoming government.
Yoon’s pick of Han Duck-soo for prime minister is the first major nomination in his government, which is set to be inaugurated on May 10.
South Korea’s executive power is concentrated with the president, but the prime minister leads the country if the president becomes incapacitated. The National Assembly must approve the president’s choice.
Han, 72, held a string of top spots such as trade minister, finance minister and prime minister when South Korea was governed by back-to-back liberal presidents, Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, from 1998 to 2003. During the next conservative government of President Lee Myung-bak, Han was South Korea’s ambassador to the United States.
READ ALSO: