Second Acting Prime Minister in Korea's History

The Acting Prime Minister system will be used again after 16 years. For only the second time in Korea's history, the Minister of Finance and Economy Lee Hun-jai has officially become the acting Prime Minister of Korea. This is due to the resignation of former Prime Minister Park Tae-joon.

The first acting Prime Minister was the Minister of Economic Planning Shin Byung-hyun in 1984. He served as the acting Prime Minister for 3 months while Prime Minister Jin Eui-jong was sick in bed. The fact that Acting Prime Minister Lee is the son in-law of former Prime Minister Jin has drawn much attention.

The law for government organizations says that when the Prime Minister cannot serve due to some mishap, an acting Prime Minister should be appointed. The highest state minister or a state minister chosen by the President would take the position of Acting Prime Minister.

A spokesperson for Chong Wa Dae explained, "The Minister of Finance and Economy is the highest state minister and so was chosen to serve as the acting Prime Minister."

The authority and responsibilities of the acting Prime Minister are much reduced. The Deputy Premier takes care of most of the Prime Minister's duties, and the acting Prime Minister is only in charge of limited jobs, such as the signing of documents.

The acting Prime Minister will carry out his duties in the Minister's office. Acting Prime Minister Lee will continue working at the offices in Kwachon as the Minister of Finance and Economy and will only visit the Prime Minister's rooms when necessary.

by Ko Jung-ae