President Lee approves Han Seong-suk as prime minister, second woman to hold post

President Lee Jae Myung approved the appointment of Han Seong-suk as prime minister on Monday.

Cheong Wa Dae chief spokesperson Kang Yu-jung notified reporters that Han's official start date would be Wednesday, July 1.

The National Assembly passed Han's confirmation motion Monday, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, 23 days after Lee nominated her on June 7. Han will become the second prime minister of the Lee Jae Myung administration and only the second woman in South Korean history to hold the post.

The confirmation vote was held at a late-night plenary session, with the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Progressive Party pushing it through in the absence of the People Power Party. Of 167 lawmakers present, 166 voted in favor and one ballot was invalid.

People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik told reporters after leaving the chamber that his party considered Han unfit for the role. "We had already made clear our opposition to her confirmation, so we did not take part in the vote," he said.

With Han's confirmation secured, outgoing Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is expected to return to the National Assembly and seek the party leadership at the Democratic Party convention scheduled for August.