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SEOUL - SOUTH Korea's incoming president nominated the United Nations special envoy on climate change as prime minister, his first Cabinet appointment.
President-elect Lee Myung Bak said on Monday Mr Han Seung Soo was selected because of his wide experience in diplomacy, economics and politics.
'Han is best qualified to achieve our goal of reinvigorating the economy and also for trade and energy diplomacy,' Mr Lee said, citing his political and diplomatic experience.
Mr Han, 71, is a former finance and foreign minister who served as ambassador to the United States from 1993-4. He was elected president of the UN General Assembly in 2001.
He earned a doctorate in economics from the University of York in 1968, and was commerce minister between 1988-1990 and finance minister between 1996-1997.
The appointment must be confirmed by Parliament.
Mr Lee, who will be the country's first president from a business background, has promised to promote investment through deregulation and tax adjustments and to raise annual growth to seven percent during his five-year term.
He takes office on Feb 25 and is expected to finalise his Cabinet line-up this week. -- AFP
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