Tasks Facing New Premier

New Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon assumed office Wednesday after winning approval at the National Assembly. It took 21 days for the former South Jeolla Province governor to be endorsed after President Moon Jae-in nominated him, the shortest period of time ever.

The legislature passed the confirmation motion for Lee, a journalist-turned-politician, after a grueling vetting process. Among the 188 lawmakers present for the vote, 164 approved of Lee, 20 opposed and two abstained. Two votes were invalid.

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party boycotted the vote, calling him unfit for the post. The conservative party charged Lee with a string of allegations, including one that Lee's wife used a false address to get assigned to a school in southern Seoul as a teacher.

The brouhaha that erupted in the process of the new prime minister being confirmed at the parliament is emblematic of the heap of challenges ahead of him.

His utmost task is certainly boosting ''cooperative governance,'' a key national agenda item President Moon Jae-in has championed since taking office May 10. The opposition-led parliament _ the ruling Democratic Party of Korea holds only 120 seats, falling far short of a majority in the 300-seat Assembly _ makes it all the more necessary for this to work.

Although Lee managed to pass the confirmation hearing, other nominees to top Cabinet posts are facing strong opposition. Kang Kyung-wha, the nominee for foreign minister, and Kim Sang-jo, who was tapped to head the Fair Trade Commission, are facing criticism because of a variety of ethics breaches.

In his inauguration speech, Lee vowed to be...

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