SOUTH KOREAN MPs approved President Park Geun Hye’s choice for prime minister today, despite wrangling over whether Lee Wan Koo is fit for the job.

Mr Lee was approved 148-128 with five abstentions.

Outgoing PM Chung Hong Won had offered to resign shortly after a ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people last April.

However, the two possible replacements both abandoned their nominations because of questions over their past behaviour, leaving the incumbent unchallenged.

Mr Lee has faced a string of allegations relating to property speculation, draft-dodging and other reputedly dodgy dealings.

But he has been hardest hit after a recording was leaked in which he bragged that he was influential enough to get media companies to drop critical stories and dole out punishment to journalists he disliked.