South Korean leader gets his choice of prime minister

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - President Moon Jae-in appointed Lee Nak-yon as South Korea’s prime minister on Wednesday despite fierce opposition from a conservative party after a parliamentary majority backed his choice.

Just 188 lawmakers from Seoul’s 299-member National Assembly took part in the vote to endorse Lee’s nomination because the main conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) boycotted proceedings, according to the country’s Yonhap News Agency.

The LKP’s opposition stemmed from alleged family irregularities such as 65-year-old Lee’s wife being accused of registering at a false address in the late 1980s in order to get a teaching job in southern Seoul.

While it is a relatively common indiscretion in South Korea, Moon had promised to pick high-ranking officials who did not face any such controversies.

The assembly’s other parties agreed to push forward with the endorsement vote after the president appealed for their understanding.

Having taken office three weeks ago, Moon nominated Lee as prime minister right away to help shape his Cabinet.

The premier’s role also means being second in command in the country -- as seen when Lee’s predecessor Hwang Kyo-ahn temporarily took over as president after ex-leader Park Geun-hye’s impeachment last December.

Four-term lawmaker Lee is seen as a moderate influence who could help unite the country, including the sometimes-neglected southwestern region, where he served as South Jeolla Province governor since 2014.

Previously a journalist, Lee became a politician thanks to his relationship with late former President Kim Dae-jung -- a liberal icon who spearheaded the first inter-Korean summit of 2000.