Former Professor Appointed South Korean Prime Minister

SEOUL — President Roh Tae Woo today named as South Korea’s new prime minister a former professor who, while serving as education minister, alienated liberal teachers by blocking their efforts to set up a teachers’ union.

Chung Won Shik, 62, who served in the Cabinet for nearly two years until Dec. 27, was picked to replace Ro Jai Bong, 55, who submitted his resignation Wednesday, the presidential Blue House announced.

Kim Dae Jung’s major opposition party, the New Democratic Union, and the splinter Democratic Party both condemned Chung’s appointment and demanded that it be withdrawn.

Kim’s party said the appointment shows “that Roh Tae Woo is more interested in maintaining his power than in addressing the dissatisfaction of the people.” It “not only betrays the people’s hopes” for reform but also serves as a “challenge to the people,” the party added.

“Chung, who is the very person who viciously suppressed the teachers’ union, clearly lacks the determination to carry out democratic reforms,” the Democratic Party said in a statement.

The resignation of Ro, a former Seoul National University political science professor who developed an image as a hard-liner since his appointment Dec. 27, had been sought by Kim’s party as its chief demand in protests against President Roh’s government.

“This appointment is designed to address the concern of the people created by a series of demonstrations recently and to meet people’s expectations with a new team” of leaders, said Lee Su Jong, the president’s spokesman.

Chung, now touring Africa as a presidential envoy seeking support for South Korea’s planned application to join the United Nations, was flying home and is to arrive Saturday, said presidential spokesman Lee.

Lee said Roh and his new prime minister will consult then on naming a new Cabinet. A reshuffle, rather than a complete overhaul, of the Cabinet is expected.

Chung is a former Seoul National University professor who also served as dean of the university’s college of education.

Even before the appointment was announced, dissidents and students called the replacement of prime ministers a sham and vowed to continue their protests. The current political turmoil began April 26 when five riot policemen beat a university freshman to death during a demonstration against an increase in university tuition fees.