Prime minister: Take 2

President Kim Dae-jung named Chang Dae-whan, the president of Maeil Business Newspaper, as prime minister-designate on Friday. The government will ask the National Assembly to confirm Mr. Chang next week. He is expected to confront parliamentary confirmation 12 days later.

"Mr. Chang is a visionary CEO with superb leadership," said Park Jie-won, Blue House chief of staff. "At a time when the world economy is losing stability, we expect him to make a great contribution toward maintaining stability in the Korean economy."

The appointment of Mr. Chang came after last week's parliamentary rejection of President Kim's first choice, Chang Sang, the former Ewha Womans University president and the first woman prime minister-designate. She seemed at first assured of confirmation, due to her gender and her former job. But the televised parliamentary confirmation could not resolve questions about her son's U.S. citizenship, which exempted him from army service, and alleged real estate speculation.

"We examined Mr. Chang in every possible way and he met the standards," said Mr. Park. The new nominee received a Ph.D. in international business from New York University. He became a president of Maeil Business Newspaper, Korea's largest economic daily newspaper, in 1988.

If Mr. Chang, 50, passes the parliamentary hearing, he will be Korea's third-youngest prime minister, after Kim Jong-pil, who was appointed in 1971 at age 45, and Chung Il-kwon, 47 in 1964 when he was appointed. A Blue House official said that leadership has nothing to do with age.

Observers said that the Blue House, reeling from corruption scandals involving two of the president's sons and battered by election defeat, sought to win legislative approval by appointing a prime minister younger than all other members of the cabinet. Others suggested that Mr. Chang's age might make it difficult for him to control the cabinet.

The new nominee said Friday that he was a bit bewildered by his appointment but will push through ongoing government policies during his brief term, which will end along with President Kim's in January.

Unlike Ms. Chang, Mr. Chang will not be embarrassed with his children's nationality. "I have a son and a daughter," he said. "They lived in the United States for 14 years but they were born in Korea." He said his son, who is enrolled at the University of Michigan, would enter the army.

The opposition Grand National Party argued that it would be unconstitutional for the prime minister-designate to take up his duties before legislative confirmation. "It is regrettable that the president appointed another prime minister-designate, despite criticism that it is unconstitutional," said Suh Chung-won, the party chairman.

Nam Kyung-pil, GNP spokesman, said that the opposition has no prejudice against Mr. Chang but will look into every nook and corner during the parliamentary hearing.

The Millennium Democratic Party welcomed the decision.

"We're counting on Mr. Chang's ability, flexibility and youth," said Lee Nak-yon, the MDP spokesman.

"As the president of the Maeil Business Newspaper, Mr. Chang took the lead in promoting the information society," said Kang Un-tae, a lawmaker.

But members of the major parties agreed that it would be difficult to reject a prime minister-designate for the second time unless the candidate has a major flaw in integrity or administrative ability.

by Chun Young-gi, Ko Jung-ae