1st LD: S. Korean president names ruling party floor leader as new PM

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday named the ruling Saenuri Party floor leader Lee One-koo as new prime minister, her presidential office said.

Lee was nominated to replace Prime Minister Chung Hon-won, who submitted his resignation last year to assume responsibility for a deadly ferry disaster in mid-April that left more than 300 people dead or missing.

The replacement came amid growing public anger against the Park administration over a political scandal and the higher tax burden for middle-income bracket.

A former aide to President Park when she was a lawmaker was suspected of intervening in state affairs though he has no official position in the government, sparking worries about a heavyweight wielding power behind the scene.

The revised tax code raised tax burden for wage earners, especially middle-class workers, fueling dissatisfaction with the Park government along with a 80-percent hike in tobacco prices that weighed down on living expenses of low-income earners.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon would remain in office for the time being despite calls from opposition lawmakers for his resignation.

Three other presidential aides, suspected of being involved in the political scandal, are to face changes in their tasks at the presidential office. Endi