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1st LD: S. Korea approves new PM, ending 2-month vacancy

Xinhua, June 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

South Korean lawmakers on Thursday ratified former Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn as new prime minister, ending a vacancy for the country's second-highest executive position in nearly two months.

The nomination bill was passed through the National Assembly with a 156-120 vote and two under-votes. Among 298 lawmakers, 20 abstained from the vote.

The approval came more than 50 days after former Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo stepped down on alleged bribery scandal.

Hwang, 58, was named by President Park Geun-hye as new prime minister about a month earlier, but members of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy opposed to his nomination, saying that Hwang allegedly sought to dodge military service and peddled influences.

The prosecutor-turned-justice minister was known for his career as the so-called "public security" prosecutor who focused on charging pro-democracy activists and followers of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Rival political parties granted a green light to Hwang's nomination due to the prolonged absence of control tower of the government to contain the ongoing spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

Three more MERS infections were reported Thursday, bringing the total contagion to 165 since the first case was discovered on May 20.

Lee Jong-hun, floor spokesman of the ruling New Frontier Party, said it was very fortunate for the new prime minister to belatedly spearhead the management of the MERS crisis.

Park Soo-hyun, floor spokesperson of the main opposition party, said that opposition lawmakers would continue to monitor whether the new prime minister adequately acts as head of the control tower to counter the MERS. Endi