President Park appoints liberal figure as new prime minister

By Park Sae-jin Posted : November 2, 2016, 09:57 Updated : November 2, 2016, 09:57

[Aju News DB]


South Korea's scandal-stricken President Park Geun-hye picked a liberal scholar-turned-politician Wednesday as her new prime minister in a cabinet shake-up aimed at assuaging widespread public anger sparked by her controversial ties with an arrested long-time friend.

The president's office said that Kim Byong-joon, 62, was nominated as prime minister to replace Hwang Kyo-ahn, bowing to calls from opposition parties to form a neutral cabinet.

Kim served as a senior presidential aide for South Korea's late liberal politician Roh Moo-hyun who served as president from 2003 and 2008.

A scandal over Park's longtime friend, Choi Soon-sil, has roiled South Korea, threatening to put key security and other state affairs on the back burner.

Park admitted last week that Choi had acted as the president's personal adviser, editing presidential speeches. The woman returned home from Europe Sunday and was placed under emergency arrest.

The 60-year-old daughter of a religious cult leader who was once seen as Park's anchor is suspected of exploiting her ties with the president to interfere in state affairs.

Aju News Lim Chang-won and Park Sae-jin
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