Seoul appoints ‘Mr Smile’ as prime minister
December 17, 2019, 9:52 am

Seoul appoints ‘Mr Smile’ as prime minister

Chung Sye-kyun speaks to reporters at the National Assembly in Seoul on December 17, 2019. (AFP)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in appointed an anodyne former parliamentary speaker known as “Mr. Smile” as prime minister on Tuesday after a previous cabinet appointment triggered a corruption scandal and mass protests.

Chung Sye-Kyun - a six-term lawmaker and former commerce minister - earned the soubriquet for his mild demeanor, and local reports say he has six times been voted the “most gentlemanly lawmaker” by reporters covering the National Assembly.

“He has always pursued politics that listen, by valuing dialogue and compromise with his gentle personality,” Moon said.

Under South Korea’s strong executive presidency, the prime ministerial job is largely ceremonial.

Chung’s nomination comes after Moon’s first choice as justice minister, Cho Kuk, was forced to resign in October only a month after his appointment as a huge scandal swirled over academic privileges allegedly given to his children.

Huge crowds took to the streets in support of and against the law professor, and Moon ended up offering a public apology for “creating a conflict among citizens.”

source: AFP

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”