South Korean President Roh Moo-hyunon Monday appointed Han Duck-soo, head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, as deputy prime minister and minister for finance and economy, Roh's spokesman Kim Jong-min announced.

The nomination comes one week after former Deputy Premier Lee Hun-jai resigned over allegations of real estate speculation involved his wife.

Han, who received a doctorate in economics from Harvard University, served as South Korean ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and vice commerce,and industry and energy minister.

He also worked as senior presidential secretary for economic affairs under the previous South Korean President Kim Dae-jung's administration.

Source: Xinhua