Seoul appoints 'Mr Smile' as prime minister

South Korea's new prime minister nominee Chung Sye-kyun, is a six-term lawmaker and former commerce minister. - AFP

SEOUL: South Korean President Moon Jae-in appointed an anodyne former parliamentary speaker known as "Mr Smile" as prime minister on Tuesday, after a previous cabinet appointment triggered a corruption scandal and mass protests.

Chung Sye-kyun -- a six-term lawmaker and former commerce minister -- earned the soubriquet for his mild demeanour, and local reports say he has six times been voted the "most gentlemanly lawmaker" by reporters covering the National Assembly.