S. Koreas incoming president nominates his prime minister

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 countrys No. 2 official under his incoming government. Yoons 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 Koreas 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 presidents 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 Koreas ambassador to the United States.

Yoon called Han the right person to lead his Cabinet citing his vast administrative experience at a time when South Korea faces grave environments at home and abroad. Han said he feels both honored and burdened by the nomination.

Yoon, a conservative former top prosecutor who won the March 9 election, will replace current liberal President Moon Jae-in. Key tasks facing Yoon include how to revive pandemic-hit livelihoods, address runaway housing prices and income equality, and deal with North Koreas growing nuclear threats and an intensifying competition between the United States and China. Yoon is expected to nominate his choices for foreign, defense, finance and other ministers in coming weeks.

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