A divided National Assembly approved former Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn as the prime minister Thursday in a 156 to 120 vote, despite vehement protest from the opposition warning his confirmation would lead to “administrative disaster.”

The vote ends a 52-day vacancy in the government’s top deputy job.

Hwang said he was prepared to carry out his new job in his acceptance speech, vowing to tackle the MERS outbreak and revive the economy, despite the opposition’s stiff objection to his nomination.

“Taking care of the MERS outbreak must come first. I will also strive to revive the struggling economy,” Hwang said.

“I will make sure this outbreak offers us a chance to revamp the government’s disease prevention system. I will do my best to make sure something changes this time.”

The vote on Hwang’s nomination appears to have been cast strictly along party lines, as 156 of the ruling Saenuri Party and 122 of the opposition attended the session. 

Hwang, accused by the opposition of military draft-dodging and raking in millions in illicit income, will initially face the task of containing the fallout from the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak here, which has stifled consumer confidence and the public’s trust in the Park Geun-hye administration.

Some experts also allege that Hwang must take a more conciliatory stance towards the opposition in order to gain support for bills sponsored by the Saenuri Party and the president.

“In order to regain the public’s confidence the Park administration needs someone soft-spoken and soothing. The public needs healing from the MERS outbreak, literally and figuratively,” said Yang Seung-ham, professor of politics at Yonsei University in Seoul.

Yang cited Hwang’s long career as a prosecutor specializing in counterespionage, and Hwang’s “uptight” public image as potentially being his weakest points.

“Hwang could be a great person to forward Park’s anticorruption drive, but it remains to be seen if he’s the person that will be able to appease the opposition and an angry public,” Yang added.

Yoon Pyung-joong, professor of politics and philosophy at Hanshin University, said Hwang faced daunting tasks, as his confirmation process lacked the endorsement of the public currently immersed in the MERS outbreak.

“But at the same time, even if Hwang fails to contain the MERS outbreak, the public in general won’t think it’s (Hwang’s) fault. They will likely think it’s Park’s fault,” he added.

President Park is expected to conduct a Cabinet reshuffle in the coming days that will include a replacement for Hwang at the Justice Ministry.

Hwang is the first former justice minister to become prime minister. Hwang, 58, is also the first prime minister in his 50s since Han Duk-soo who served as the prime minister under the Roh Moo-hyun administration.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)