A female nuclear scientist topped the list of the ruling Saenuri Party’s proportional representation candidates unveiled Tuesday.

The selection of Min Byung-joo, a 53-year-old researcher at the state-run Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, demonstrates the party’s determination to better represent the underrepresented ― women and scientists, party officials said.

“She is a role model figure for female scientists, having blazed a trail in the nuclear science field which before her had virtually no female presence,” said Jung Hong-won, head of the party’s nomination committee.

She is a leader in not just her academic field of nuclear research, party officials added.

The candidate headed the Association of Korean Woman Scientists and Engineers for two years until December.

She was among the 14 women honored by the World Nuclear Association in 2005 for their contribution to nuclear science and technology.

The choice of a nuclear expert, however, drew criticism from anti-nuclear activists and the far-left New Progressive Party.

“We’re stunned by the Saenuri Party which named a pro-nuclear figure for the symbolic position amid this anti-nuclear sentiment,” said the party with no parliamentary seat.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)