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Lee Han-dong Named S. Korean Prime Minister
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung on Monday morning nominated Lee Han-dong, leader of a minor opposition, as the new prime minister to succeed Park Tai-jung who resigned last weekend over a tax evasion scandal.
The nomination, which was announced by Presidential Chief of Staff Han Kwang-ok, is subject to approval by the National Assembly.
The house is expected to approve the nomination after the incoming 16th National Assembly leadership and floor groups are formed in early June.
Lee, the 66-year-old leader of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD), is a six-term lawmaker who started his political career with the now-defunct Democratic Justice Party (DJP) established by then President Chun Du-hwan.
A graduate of the law school of Seoul National University, Lee worked as judge, prosecutor and lawyer before joining the DJP as a founding member in 1981.
Lee served as secretary general, chief policy-maker and floor leader of the DJP, minister of home affairs, floor leader of the Democratic Liberal Party, National Assembly vice speaker, chairman of the Grand National Party (GNP) before he assumed the ULD presidency.
He lost to Lee Hoi-chang in the competition for the GNP candidacy for the 1997 presidential election and the party presidency in 1998.
Lee quit from the GNP last January to join the ULD, the former coalition partner of Kim Dae-jung's ruling Millennium Democratic Party.
Observers say Lee Han-dong has no "enemies" in political circles because of his open-mindedness and love for drinking and mingling.
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