Seoul: Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announced Wednesday that President Lee Jae Myung has approved the appointment of Han Seong-sook as prime minister.

According to Qatar News Agency, the appointment is scheduled to take effect on July 1st, making Han the second female prime minister in Lee Jae Myung's administration, succeeding Kim Min-seok, and the 50th prime minister in the country's history.

The South Korean National Assembly approved the appointment of Han Seong-sook as prime minister with 166 votes in favor and one invalid vote out of 167 members present from the ruling and pro-government parties. The vote took place in a plenary session on June 30, despite a boycott by the People Power Party (PPP), the main opposition party, which argued that Han was unqualified for the position.

Han Seong-sook was serving as Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups. With her appointment today as Prime Minister, Han becomes the first woman to hold the position in South Korea in 20 years.