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S. Korean president-elect nominates first prime minister

08 February 2013 04:36 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye on Friday nominated former prosecutor Chung Hong-won as the first prime minister of her incoming administration, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Chung is the second choice of Park as her transition team head Kim Yong-joon gave up his nomination due to allegations of speculative land investment. The 69-year-old served as the ruling party's election nomination head during last year's parliamentary election.

"I'll assist (Park) in a right and exact way," Chung told reporters after the nomination. "I'm an ordinary man with no brilliant career. What she meant was to value ordinary people highly."

Chung will face a parliamentary confirmation hearing in the coming weeks. The new government takes office later this month.

Park also named former Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo as the national security office chief at the presidential office, and former Army Chief of Staff Park Heung-ryul to head the presidential security service chief. The two positions are equal to a ministerial level.