(LEAD) President appoints two new ministers

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES with reports of the ceremony for new ministers in paras 2-4)

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in appointed two new ministers Friday, nearly completing the list of his first Cabinet.

Paik Un-gyu was appointed the new minister of trade, industry and energy, with Park Neung-hoo appointed the new health and welfare minister in a ceremony held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

The ceremony also involved new Justice Minister Park Sang-ki, who was appointed Wednesday without a ceremony.

With the two new ministers, the president now has filled 17 out of the total 19 seats of his Cabinet. Moon came into office on May 10.

The post of the labor minister remains vacant after Moon's earlier nominee, Cho Dae-yeop, withdrew over strong objections from opposition parties.

The president has yet to name a new designate for the labor minister.

The newly created post of the minister for small and medium-sized enterprises also remains vacant with no nominee named so far.

bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)