President Lee Jae Myung (right) on July 4 poses for a photo after giving a letter of appointment to new Prime Minister Kim Min-seok at the Office of the President in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Jihae

President Lee Jae Myung on July 3 approved the appointment of Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said.

Kim is the first prime minister of the Lee administration and the 49th in the nation's history.

With 179 lawmakers present, the National Assembly approved the appointment with 173 votes in favor, three against and three invalid. The People Power Party did not participate in the voting.

After his confirmation, Prime Minister Kim wrote on his Facebook page, "I will uphold the will of the people as if it were that of heaven, explain the President's direction from the ground up and incorporate the wisdom of lawmakers regardless of party affiliation into national affairs."

"As the presidential chief of staff, I will strive to be a prime minister who thinks early and takes care of things first and open an era of a great people, a great government and a great president."

jihlee08@korea.kr