President appoints two more new ministers

All News 17:53 July 04, 2017

SEOUL, July 4 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in appointed two new ministers Tuesday, bringing the number of new Cabinet ministers appointed so far under his new administration to 12.

Kim Sang-kon and Kim Eun-kyung were appointed the new ministers of education and environment, respectively. The new education minister will double as a deputy prime minister for social affairs.

Their appointments came shortly after the parliament issued reports on the outcome of their confirmation hearings.

President Moon Jae-in (second from L) walks with his new Education Minister Kim Sang-kon (L) and Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung (second from R) after presenting them with a certificate of appointment in a ceremony held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on July 4, 2017. (Yonhap)

New ministers do not need the parliament's approval, but the report is widely considered a prerequisite to their appointment.

The opposition-led parliament currently refuses to publish such reports or even hold confirmation hearings for some of Moon's minister-nominees.

The president may still appoint a new minister without a parliamentary report, but may face strong public criticism, and often even a political backlash.

President Moon has named all new 19 members of the Cabinet since taking office nearly two months ago on May 10.

Only 12, including Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, have been appointed.

Moon's ruling Democratic Party controls 120 seats in the National Assembly, the largest number for any single political party, but is still far short of a majority in the 300-seat house.

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party controls 107 seats, with three other minor opposition parties together holding an additional 66 seats.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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