Unification Ministry to Be Retained: The signboard of the Ministry of Unification is seen at the lobby of the Central Government Complex building in downtown Seoul, Sunday. The two largest political parties agreed to retain the ministry for inter-Korean relations under the incoming Lee Myung-bak administration. Lee will take office on Feb. 25. / Yonhap

By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter

The pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP) and the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) have agreed to retain the Ministry of Unification under the incoming Lee Myung-bak administration.

Under the bipartisan agreement, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea will remain independent. The transition team had initially planned to put the commission under the control of the presidential office.

But the two parties have yet to agree on whether to retain the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The team had planned to abolish or curtail the functions of the two ministries but faced a severe backlash.

The Unification Ministry, which has taken on inter-Korean relations for 39 years though its functions and name differed according to administrations, has been at the center of a political confrontation since Lee was elected president on Dec. 19.

The next President had planned to close the ministry and four other ministries under his government reorganization bills submitted to the National Assembly last month.

Ahead of the general elections on April 9, GNP lawmakers are trying not to alienate voters by scrapping the Unification Ministry, observers said.

Lee wanted to merge it with the Foreign Ministry, insisting that the reshuffle would improve the efficiency of the country's North Korea policy.

The United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights Louise Arbour recently urged President-elect Lee to retain the human rights commission as an independent body.

The UNDP and civic groups have also said the commission could be politically influenced if it is put under the control of the presidential office.

The compromise came after President Roh Moo-hyun said he was unwilling to sign into law the bills initiated by President-elect Lee's transition team unless the bills are revised.

Stressing that the bills run counter to the philosophy of the incumbent administration, President Roh said, ``I suggest the next President sign the government reorganization bill himself.''

It is still uncertain whether the incoming government can meet its schedule for the reorganization and nomination of Cabinet ministers. An extraordinary National Assembly session will continue until Feb. 26, one day after Lee's inauguration.

In the mean time, the transition team and political parties will continue negotiations on the fate of several ministries including the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

kys@koreatimes.co.kr