Overriding the main opposition party's strong resistance, President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday pressed ahead with the appointment of his new knowledge economy minister.
Lee gave the letter of appointment to Choi Joong-kyung, a long-time financial bureaucrat, following a month of heated partisan strife over
whether he is qualified for the post handling the government's export and corporate policy.
Choi was nominated to the job on Dec. 31 in a partial Cabinet shake-up, with three-term lawmaker Choung Byoung-guk named as the culture minister.
The Democratic Party (DP) has called for the president to withdraw Choi's nomination, citing his lack of expertise in the real economy and alleged property speculation by him and his family that was revealed during a parliamentary confirmation hearing.
The DP refused to adopt a formal report on the results of the hearing.
But its attempt to block out Choi gained no further momentum as the appointment of a Cabinet member does not require parliamentary approval
under South Korea's law.
"Minister Choi is believed to be a figure who can fulfill his duty," said Kim Hee-jung, spokeswoman at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
Choi immediately began his work at the knowledge ministry, she added.
Choung also received the letter of appointment as the culture minister.