South Korea’s new President Lee taps campaign aide Kim Min-seok as premier

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korea’s newly-elected President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday appointed top campaign aide Kim Min-seok as prime minister, his first Cabinet nomination made just hours after being sworn into office, Yonhap News reported.

Lee, 61, secured victory in Tuesday’s snap presidential election with 49.42% of the vote, winning over 17 million ballots in an election that saw the highest turnout in 28 years -- 79.4%. The early election was prompted by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol following a failed attempt to impose martial law in December.

Lee also named former Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok as head of the National Intelligence Service, seasoned diplomat Wi Sung-lac as his national security adviser, and three-term lawmaker Kang Hoon-sik of the Democratic Party as his chief of staff.

A former human rights lawyer, Lee campaigned on a platform of restoring dialogue and “co-prosperity” with North Korea to ensure long-term stability on the Korean Peninsula. He has also pledged to address South Korea’s economic challenges, including sluggish growth and trade tensions, particularly with the United States over proposed tariffs.

Unlike past transitions, Lee assumed office immediately after the vote, bypassing the traditional 60-day handover period. He is the first president from the Democratic Party to begin his term with a friendly legislature.

While the South Korean president serves as the chief executive, the prime minister oversees day-to-day governance in the country of 52 million people.