▲ Prime Minister Kim Min-seok (Yonhap)

PM office-confirmation hearing

PM office forms confirmation hearing preparation team for incoming PM nominee

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- The prime minister's office has formed a team to help an incoming prime minister nominee prepare for a parliamentary confirmation hearing, an official said Friday, amid widespread speculation that President Lee Jae Myung will soon designate a successor to Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.

First Vice Minister of Government Policy Coordination Kim Young-su is heading the team comprising about 30 officials, and its office will be set up at the Korea Banking Institute near the prime minister's residence in central Seoul, according to the official, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity.

"The team's formation is part of our internal preparations to put it into operation as soon as the prime minister nominee is named," the official said. "They will prepare documents requested by the National Assembly and handle media relations."

It is no secret that Kim is going to step down soon to run for leader of the ruling Democratic Party.

Leading candidates for his successor are said to include Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho and Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Seong-sook.

The appointment of a prime minister is subject to approval from the National Assembly after a confirmation hearing.

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