The nomination comes one week after former Deputy Premier Lee Hun-jai resigned over allegations of real estate speculation involved his wife.

    Announcing the appointment, Roh's Senior Presidential Secretaryfor Personnel Management Kim Wan-key said "We hope the incoming deputy premier for economic affairs, will coherently pursue the government's economic policy to maintain the trend of economic recovery."

    Various indicators show the country's economy is on the verge of recovery after two years of economic slowdown.

    "The incoming deputy premier not only has an excellent perspective of the market economy, trade and the overall economy but has also lived a healthy life both privately and publicly," Kim noted.

    Han, who received a doctorate in economics from Harvard University, served as South Korean ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and vice commerce,and industry and energy minister.

    He also worked as senior presidential secretary for economic affairs under the previous South Korean President Kim Dae-jung's administration. Enditem