Roh Names Academic as New Premier

South Korean President Roh Tae Woo backed up his pledges of political neutrality Wednesday by appointing a respected academic as prime minister to oversee presidential elections later this year.

Hyon Seung Jong, 73, dean of Hamlin University, agreed to replace Prime Minister Chung Won Shik to head what Roh pledged last month would be a Cabinet of “impeccable neutrality” after reports of widespread election rigging earlier this year prompted public demands for fair elections.

The unassuming academic, unaffiliated with any political party, initially declined Roh’s appointment, saying he lacks bureaucratic experience. But two senior presidential aides, former students of his at Korea University’s law school, talked him into changing his mind.

“I was not able to act against the wishes of my president who wants me to make this sacrifice for the nation,” Hyon told reporters.

Minority party leaders immediately hailed Hyon’s selection. Hong Sa Dok, Democratic Party spokesman, called him a “suitable person to lead the neutral Cabinet in these troubled times.”

Early Wednesday, Chung and the rest of the Cabinet resigned en masse to pave the way for Roh’s new appointments, expected to be announced later this week.

Roh is likely to replace the ministers of home affairs, justice, political affairs and public information. It is not yet clear whether the director of the National Security Planning Agency, which has allegedly played a leading role in past election fraud, will be replaced.

But Democratic Party President Kim Dae Jung has said that he will not demand minister-by-minister approval of a new Cabinet to be satisfied with Roh’s sincerity.

“We are not in a position to interfere with the president’s right to organize his Cabinet,” Kim said in a recent interview. “As long as the prime minister is acceptable, we will consider that Cabinet neutral.”

Hyon majored in civil law at the elite Seoul National University and began his teaching career at Korea University in 1946. He was born in North Korea in 1919.

The National Assembly is expected to ratify Hyon as prime minister today.

Chi Jung Nam, researcher in The Times Seoul Bureau, contributed to this report.