Choo Mi-ae, 61, a five-term lawmaker and a former chief of the Democratic Party from 2016 to 2018, was named to lead the justice ministry amid the ongoing push by the Moon government to reform the prosecution office, the presidential Blue House said.
The nomination came after Cho Kuk resigned as justice minister on Oct. 14 over the alleged wrongdoings involving his family. Cho was nominated as justice minister on Aug. 9 and took office a month later.
Choo, the justice minister nominee, will be subject to the parliamentary confirmation hearing.
The nominee told reporters that she would try her best to meet people's demand for the prosecution reform, which has become a demand of the times, according to local media reports.
The prosecution reform was one of President Moon's key campaign pledges as the prosecution office has long been seen as an agency of excessive power and authority.
Choo served as a judge at district courts from 1985 to 1995, becoming a lawmaker of the Democratic Party in 1996.