Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, who began his official duties on Wednesday, donated 100 million won ($92,081) to a local charity organization in a gesture to take care of citizens in need and prioritize the lives of the people.

Chung, 68, was formally appointed by President Park Geun-hye as her first prime minister on Tuesday after the National Assembly approved his nomination earlier in the day.

After paying a visit to the national cemetery as his first official duty, he visited the Community Chest of Korea in Seoul and donated the money asking for efforts to help those in need and to cultivate a sharing culture in the society, according to officials of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

In his inauguration speech on Tuesday, Chung vowed to devise "customized employment and welfare programs" to take care of the lives of the people and to have President Park's administrative philosophy that prioritizes "the happiness of the people" take root soon.

Chung was named to the post earlier this month, after serving as chief of Park's ruling Saenuri Party's candidate nomination committee ahead of last April's general elections. Before that, he served as a public prosecutor for nearly 30 years and worked as a lawyer after retiring from public office.

Meanwhile, Chung asked for parliamentary support for a smooth launch of the new government by agreeing upon Park's restructuring bill. The failure to narrow differences between rival parties over the government's organizational layout caused the Park administration to be in paralysis due to the absence of a new Cabinet and uncertainty over duties of each office.

"It is my sincere hope that the parliament helps the newly launched government chosen by the people to play its role," Chung said during a brief meeting with reporters.

"By convening a vice-ministerial level meeting tomorrow, I will have the government works continue without a hitch, and make a cooperative system among ministries," Chung added. 

Stressing that he has led a life of "an ordinary citizen," he once again vowed to better communicate with the public and listen to their stories "to be a prime minister standing by the people." (Yonhap News)