President Park Geun-hye named an art professor as her new culture minister Sunday, her spokesman said, after her previous nominee stepped down over allegations of drunken driving and other ethical lapses, Yonhap news agency reported.
Kim Jong-deok, a professor of visual design at Seoul’s Hongik University, was chosen for his rich experience and expertise, as well as excellent leadership and “sense of the field,” presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said in a press briefing.
The nominee was also seen as the right person to realize cultural prosperity, one of the Park administration’s main goals, the spokesman said.
Kim’s nomination comes 17 days after the previous nominee, Chung Sung-geun, stepped down over allegations of drunken driving and lying during his parliamentary confirmation hearing, among other issues.