Kim Tae-ho, the young former governor of South Gyeongsang province, is likely to win legislative approval as South Korea's new prime minister.

Kim, 47, will is expected to get parliamentary support for his appointment by Korean President Lee Myung-bak, making him the first prime minister in his 40s since 45-year-old Kim Jong-pil was appointed in 1971. Only four prime ministers have been appointed while still in their 40s.

"I understand that (through this nomination, the government wants to show to them that) this country is a land of opportunity as I, with no special background and from the rural ordinary family, can get such an opportunity," Kim said at a news conference after the announcement of his appointment, part of wider government reshuffle of eight other ministers.

"This reshuffle reflects demands for change and will promote our for-the-poor policy," the president's office said in a statement. "Kim is expected to show a leadership based on communication and harmonization with creative vision."

One of Kim's main tasks is to improve government communication with ordinary citizens.

"What is the biggest hurdle in this society is that there are big walls here and there due to absence of communication. Generational, regional and ideological conflicts are actually getting in the way of our efforts to move ahead in the future," he said.

"If we fail to achieve social integration and share the common values of the community, it would be a burden for the future in the long term."

Kim is expected to influence the political landscape in the ruling camp ahead of the presidential election in December 2012. Former Grand National Party chairwoman Park Geun-hye is a front runner as well as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

Kim entered the political limelight in 2004 when at the age of 41 he won a by-election to become the governor of South Gyeongsang province. Before the by-election, he served as a local council member in Geochang, South Gyeongsang province.

He is set to replace Prime Minister Chung Un-chan who was appointed in September 2009.

Chung stepped down July 29 over the failure to push through the National Assembly a plan to move government agencies into Sejong City, around 90 miles south of Seoul.

Lee is halfway through his five-year term, which ends in February 2013. Constitutionally, he can't stand again.

South Korean prime ministers serve a supporting role to the president and it remains to be seen how much influence Kim will have over relations with North Korea.

Relations with the north plumbed new depths earlier this year. An international investigating team in Seoul blamed a North Korean submarine for torpedoing and sinking the South Korean naval frigate Cheonan with the loss of 46 sailors.

Pyongyang denies responsibility and a harsh war of words broke out between the two Korean governments, with the north threatening military action.

As the announcement of Kim's appointment was made, North Korea announced it had seized a South Korean fishing boat in the East Sea and towed it to the North Korean port of Songjin, the South Korean coast guard said.

"The Daeseung crew is being interrogated by North Korean authorities," a coast guard official said.

The 41-ton boat was carrying four South Koreans and three Chinese. It had left the South Korean port Pohang on the east coast Aug. 1 and was to return Sept. 10.

North Korean naval boats often stop, search and tow to port South Korean fishing boats that the communist authorities believe are operating in their waters.

The water boundaries have been disputed since the two Koreas agreed in 1953 a cease-fire and the setting of a demilitarization line across the peninsula.

At stake over territorial water boundaries are seabed drilling rights for oil and gas.