Parliament confirms PM-designate Chung Hong-won

The National Assembly approved former veteran prosecutor Chung Hong-won as the first prime minister of the new government Tuesday, one day after the inauguration of the Park Geun-hye administration. He received an approval rate of 72.4 percent.

The confirmation motion passed in a plenary session by a vote of 197-67, with eight other votes rendered invalid. A combined 272 lawmakers took part in the voting.

The confirmation rate was the highest since the 1998 launch of the Kim Dae-jung administration. In February 1993, parliament confirmed President Kim Young-sam`s nomination of Hwang In-sung as his first prime minister with an approval rate of 97.5 percent. But just ruling party lawmakers voted.

Prime Minister Chung received a letter of appointment from President Park at 5 p.m. after the confirmation and began to perform his duty. Five years ago, Han Seung-soo was confirmed as then President Lee Myung-bak`s first prime minister four days after the president was sworn in.