President-elect Lee Myung-bak has formally nominated U.N. special envoy Han Seung-soo as prime minister and is expected to submit a confirmation bill to the National Assembly.

The president-elect predicted a smooth approval process, noting that Han has been confirmed numerous times for many public posts.

The U.N. envoy on climate change has previously served as presidential former chief of staff, ambassador to the United States, minister of trade and industry, foreign minister, and deputy premier and finance minister. His three terms as a lawmaker add to his broad experience in the political, diplomatic, and financial sectors.

Close aides to the president-elect say the envoy, who is from Gangwon Province and graduated from Yonsei University, is also a good pick in terms of regional balance. Han is said to fit the so-called “resource diplomacy” profile the president-elect had outlined in the past.

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