Prime Minister-designate Kim Byong-joon said Monday he wishes to devote himself to stabilizing state affairs, although he would humbly step back if parliament and the presidential office agree on a new candidate.

"I would like to make a contribution to state affairs, and I can't step back now," Kim told reporters.

Kim was tapped as a new prime minister by President Park Geun-hye last week amid the National Assembly's demand for the establishment of a so-called neutral Cabinet, with officials from both ruling and opposition blocs forming the Cabinet.

 There has been a rising voice from the political realm demanding Park minimize her authority, after she became embroiled in allegations that she let Choi Soon-sil, who has been a friend for around 40 years, exert influence over state affairs while holding no public seat in the administration.

The 60-year-old was placed under arrest as she is being grilled by investigators.

His nomination, however, was not welcomed by the opposition parties, which claimed that Park should have consulted lawmakers before announcing a reshuffle. The boycott emerged as a major hurdle for Kim's official debut, as the appointment of a new prime minister requires approval by a majority of all lawmakers.

The main and two splinter opposition parties currently control more than half of the 300 seats in the unicameral National Assembly.

The nominee said he will naturally step back if the parliament and the presidential office reach an understanding on another figure.

"If the ruling, opposition parties and Cheong Wa Dae agree on another suitable nominee, I will disappear," Kim said. "There's no need for me to stay as a hurdle (for the normalization of state affairs)."

On Park's apology announced last week, Kim said the president should have clarified her stance on the nomination procedures.

Kim is the former policy adviser to the late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, who still remains a symbolic figure for the opposition bloc.

On Monday, the presidential office said Kim will fully take charge of economic and social affairs as prime minister, reiterating the nominee's remark made last week.

Kim earlier said he will fulfill his role as the prime minister as stipulated by the Constitution, adding previous prime ministers did not exercise such rights. (Yonhap)