Prime minister-nominee reports wealth of 1.8 bln won

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- The personal assets of Chung Un-chan, President Lee
Myung-bak's nominee for prime minister, and his wife are estimated at about 1.8
billion won (US$1.46 million), the government said Wednesday in a motion for his
confirmation hearing.
Chung reported 1.514 billion won in assets, including an apartment in Seoul's
posh Seocho Ward worth 792 million won and an "officetel" worth 240 million won,
also in Seoul. Chung also reported 485 million won in bank account savings.
Chung's wife has an apartment in Seocho Ward valued at 264 million won, while her
bank savings are worth 50 million won.
The ruling and opposition parties agreed Monday that Chung's confirmation hearing
will be held Sept. 21-22.
President Lee last week nominated Chung, a former president of Seoul National
University, as his new prime minister in a reshuffle that also affected six
Cabinet ministers.
The two parties also agreed to hold separate confirmation hearings for the six
minister nominees from Sept. 15-18, said party officials.
The nomination of the new prime minister will be approved by the consent of more
than half the lawmakers attending the parliamentary session, although legislative
approval is not needed for the appointment of Cabinet ministers.
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