SEOUL, APRIL 19 (SPA) - SOUTH KOREA’S PARLIAMENT APPROVED ON WEDNESDAY THE COUNTRY’S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER, FORMER ACTIVIST HAN MYEONG-SOOK WHO WAS ONCE JAILED FOR PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTS. IN VOTE OF 182 TO 77, THE UNICAMERAL PARLIAMENT APPROVED HAN, WHO WAS FIRST ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT IN 2000 AND HAS SINCE SERVED AS THE ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AND GENDER EQUALITY MINISTER. HAN, 61, REPLACES VETERAN LEGISLATOR LEE HAE-CHAN, WHO WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL PRIME MINISTERS IN THE COUNTRY’S HISTORY, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF REUTERS. LEE QUIT LAST MONTH AFTER CRITICISM FOR PLAYING GOLF WHILE A RAILWAY STRIKE CAUSED TRANSPORT CHAOS. --SPA 1117 Local Time 0817 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/354654