President Lee Jae-myung is expected to name his next prime minister as early as Sunday.
A ruling camp official told Yonhap News Agency on Sunday that the president had been in the final stages of deliberation over his shortlist and appeared to have largely made up his mind. "There is a strong possibility it will be made official Sunday afternoon," the official said.
The names most frequently mentioned as candidates are Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the president; Han Seong-suk, minister of SMEs and Startups; and Jeong Seong-ho, minister of Justice.
Kang and Jeong have been considered the frontrunners, but Han has recently emerged as a potential surprise pick, with speculation that the president may opt for an unconventional choice.
If Han is nominated, she would be the first woman named prime minister in roughly 20 years, since Han Myeong-sook held the post in 2006.
Should Kang be tapped, the administration would need to find a replacement for the chief of staff role — no easy task given the demands of the position. Jeong, meanwhile, has reportedly denied to those around him on multiple occasions that he would be nominated.
dlcw@heraldcorp.com
