Parliament endorses ex-ruling party chief as education minister

The National Assembly on Friday endorsed a former ruling party chief as education minister in one of the last steps to forming President Park Geun-hye's new Cabinet.

The parliamentary education and culture committee adopted a report endorsing Hwang Woo-yea, a five-term lawmaker and former chief of the ruling Saenuri Party, as the new education minister following a confirmation hearing Thursday.

Park tapped Hwang last month immediately after she withdrew her first nominee, Kim Myung-soo, amid controversy over his alleged plagiarism in several theses.

Park conducted a partial Cabinet reshuffle in June to revamp her government following April's deadly ferry sinking that left more than 300 people dead or missing, mostly high school students.

Park's choice for culture minister, Kim Jong-deok, has yet to undergo a parliamentary confirmation hearing.

In South Korea, all Cabinet nominees are subject to a parliamentary confirmation hearing, but only a prime minister nominee is required to win the National Assembly's approval in order to be appointed.

The parliament does not have the right to veto the appointment of other nominees. (Yonhap)