Moon announces his picks for four ministers
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From left, interior minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum; culture minister nominee Do Jong-hwan; land infrastructure and transport minister nominee Kim Hyun-mee and oceans and fisheries minister nominee Kim Young-choon.
President Moon Jae-in nominated four ruling party lawmakers as new ministers, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.
Rep. Kim Boo-kyum of the Democratic Party has been tapped as new interior minister, while Rep. Kim Hyun-mee has been named to head the land, infrastructure and transport ministry, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun.
Rep. Do Jong-hwan, a renowned poet, has been tapped as new minister for culture, sports and tourism, with Rep. Kim Young-choon named the new minister for oceans and fisheries.
The nominees must undergo parliamentary confirmation hearings, though their appointment does not require parliamentary approval.
The announcement came one day after minor opposition parties agreed to help approve the appointment of Prime Minister-nominee Lee Nak-yon, who, unlike government ministers, does need the parliament's approval for his appointment.
Lee has been under scrutiny over his family's past wrongdoing that has also forced the president to ask for public and opposition understanding amid criticism about his choice of a nominee that he himself earlier said should be disqualified from government posts.
Lee's wife had falsely registered her address while working as a public school teacher in an attempt to be assigned to a school of her choice.
The president acknowledged that the decades-old misdeed committed by Lee and his family did constitute a crime, but asked for the people's and opposition parties' understanding for his lack of time to find a better candidate for the top appointed government post.
The Moon Jae-in administration was inaugurated only one day after the May 9 presidential election.
Amid a current impasse at the National Assembly over Lee's appointment as prime minister, the president has named only six new ministers, including the four named Tuesday, out of the total 18.
New ministers are nominated and appointed by the president, but their nomination requires a prior recommendation from the prime minister under the law.
The six named so far have apparently been recommended by Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho, who was appointed by ousted former President Park Geun-hye and has already been asked to step down. (Yonhap)