SEOUL - South Korea's parliament approved the appointment of prime minister nominee Kim Min-seok on Thursday.

The motion to appoint Kim, the ruling Democratic Party's four-term lawmaker, was approved with 173 votes in favor, three against and three invalid.

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Of the 300 members of the ruling party-controlled National Assembly, lawmakers of the conservative opposition People Power Party refused to vote on it, calling for Kim's voluntary resignation.

Kim was nominated as prime minister on June 4 when President Lee Jae-myung took office.