The National Assembly on Friday endorsed President Moon Jae-in's pick for deputy prime minister for economic affairs following a confirmation hearing this week.

Kim Dong-yeon, who was tapped to double as finance minister, was approved by the parliamentary strategy and finance committee, paving the way for his appointment.

A former civil servant and university president, the 60-year-old nominee went through a mandatory confirmation hearing Wednesday during which he was mainly asked about policy issues.

Kim Dong-yeon, nominee for deputy prime minister for economic affairs, leans in to listen to a question from a lawmaker during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 7, 2017. (Yonhap)

In adopting a joint report on his hearing, however, Rep. Park Joo-hyun of the minor opposition People's Party said there are still suspicions that he cheated on an eyesight test in 1977 to avoid active service in the military.

She gave her consent on the basis that the new administration needs to quickly stabilize state affairs and the candidate expressed his determination to push for policies that resolve the widening income gap.

Kim's appointment did not require parliamentary consent, but parliament's rejection of the candidate would have cast a political burden on the president.

He is the third person to join the new Cabinet after Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon.

A number of other nominees have yet to win parliamentary approval.

During a meeting earlier in the day, rival parties failed to agree on whether to convene a session to adopt a report on the confirmation hearing for Kim Yi-su, nominee for the Constitutional Court chief.

Kim has sparked controversy over his ideological orientation. (Yonhap)

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