Kim Min-seok (L) attends a meeting of South Korea's parliament in Seoul, South Korea, July 3, 2025. South Korea's parliament approved the appointment of prime minister nominee Kim Min-seok on Thursday. (NEWSIS via Xinhua)

SEOUL, July 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's parliament approved the appointment of prime minister nominee Kim Min-seok on Thursday.

The motion to appoint Kim, the ruling Democratic Party's four-term lawmaker, was approved with 173 votes in favor, three against and three invalid.

Of the 300 members of the ruling party-controlled National Assembly, lawmakers of the conservative opposition People Power Party refused to vote on it, calling for Kim's voluntary resignation.

Kim was nominated as prime minister on June 4 when President Lee Jae-myung took office. ■

Kim Min-seok (front) attends a meeting of South Korea's parliament in Seoul, South Korea, July 3, 2025. South Korea's parliament approved the appointment of prime minister nominee Kim Min-seok on Thursday. (NEWSIS via Xinhua)