President Moon Jae-in nominated Park Neung-hoo박능후, a professor of Kyonggi University Department of Social Welfare, as minister of health and welfare Monday, completing his cabinet line-up.

The nomination has caught many in the bureaucracy and industry off guard as they anticipated and prepared for the nomination of an expert with a background in health issues. The Korean Medical Association reserved its comment on the candidacy.

Park obtained his economics degree at Seoul National University and won his M/A in politics at his alma mater. Upon returning home, he has led Korean Association of Social Welfare Policy.

President Moon also nominated Paik Un-gyu, a professor at Hanyang University, as minister of trade, industry, and energy. If appointed, the two will complete the 19-member Cabinet.

The president gave letters of appointment to agricultural and unification ministers earlier in the day as well as to new chairwoman of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

Some health industry executives let out a sigh of relief that President Moon did not name Rep. Nam In-soon of the ruling Democratic Party as health-welfare minister, as she has sponsored several bills resulting in strong opposition from the medical community.

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