President Lee Approves Han Sung-sook as New Prime Minister

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has officially approved the appointment of Han Sung-sook as the nation's new Prime Minister. The appointment is set to take effect on July 1, marking a significant moment in the country's political landscape.

Han Sung-sook's ascension to the role of Prime Minister makes her the second person to hold the position under President Lee's administration and the 50th Prime Minister overall. Notably, she becomes the first woman to serve as Prime Minister in approximately two decades, following in the footsteps of Han Myeong-sook.

Her background as a businesswoman, having served as CEO of Naver for seven years starting in 2017, brings a unique perspective to the government. She also previously served as the inaugural Minister of SMEs and Startups in the Lee administration.

The National Assembly overwhelmingly supported Han's nomination, with 166 out of 167 lawmakers present voting in favor. The People Power Party chose to abstain from the vote. The confirmation follows a 23-day period since President Lee nominated Han as a successor to former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, and 19 days after the parliamentary confirmation request was submitted.