Moon nominates South Jeolla governor as prime minister

By Kim Rahn

Lee Nak-yon

South Jeolla Province Governor Lee Nak-yon has been nominated as the first prime minister of the newly launched Moon Jae-in government.

Sources at the Democratic Party of Korea said Wednesday that Moon will announce the nomination of the prime minister position and some other presidential secretaries later in the day after he takes the oath of office at the National Assembly around noon.

The new president Moon, who is from Yeongnam region referring to the southeastern parts of the country including Gyeongsang provinces and Busan, has pledged to pick a figure for prime minister from Honam region, referring to the southwestern parts including Jeolla provinces and Gwangju, as a symbol of national unity.

Lee, 65, was born in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province. After majoring law at Seoul National University, Lee worked as a reporter at Dong-A Ilbo and entered the politics in 2000 as a lawmaker. He had four terms at the National Assembly.

He was a spokesman for former President Roh Moo-hyun when Roh was the president-elect.

If he takes the prime minister position, he needs to resign from the governor post.