Lee Jae myung unveils 1st batch of key nominations including prime minister top aides

SEOUL – President Lee Jae-myung unveiled key nominations on his first day of presidency on June 4, including the prime minister nominee and his presidential aides, in his first briefing to reporters after entering the presidential office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

At a briefing room of the presidential office, Mr Lee announced that he has picked four-term Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok as the nominee for prime minister of South Korea.

Mr Lee said Mr Kim, 61, is the right fit for the position, which the President described as being “a mediator between the Cabinet and people”.

Mr Lee touted Mr Kim’s vast experience in politics, ability to execute policies to improve people’s quality of life and expertise in handling international affairs.

Mr Kim has served as a senior member of the Democratic Party’s supreme council since Mr Lee chaired the party. Recently, Mr Kim was one of the co-chairs of Mr Lee’s presidential campaign team.

Under the National Assembly Act, Mr Kim may serve as both the prime minister and a lawmaker, so he may retain his parliamentary seat.

In addition, Mr Lee Jong-seok was nominated as the chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS),the spy agency of South Korea. The 67-year-old will be the right person to safeguard the country’s national interest in the face of international trade fluctuations, President Lee said.

The NIS chief nominee formerly served as the minister of unification and led the standing committee of the National Security Council during the late former president Roh Moo-hyun’s term.

Mr Lee described him as capable of seeking a breakthrough from the strained relationship between the two Koreas.

Before the President’s final approval, Mr Kim’s and Mr Lee Jong-seok’s nominations will require a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, where the major liberal party holds the majority