Cabinet reshuffle likely in early August

By Na Jeong-ju
Staff reporter

Prime Minister Chung Un-chan resigned Thursday despite the ruling party’s overwhelming victory in the by-elections a day earlier, taking responsibility for “prompting concerns and disputes” in society over his failed attempt to revise the administrative town project.

Since the National Assembly voted down the bills on the revision in late June, Chung has expressed his intention to resign on several occasions to President Lee Myung-bak.

Lee initially asked him to continue, but eventually had to accept his resignation, presidential aides said.

Chung’s departure came amid the forecast that the conservative leader will conduct a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle early next month after returning from his summer vacation.

“With the by-elections over, I thought this was the best time to quit,” Chung told reporters. “This is also the last chance to quit as President Lee is seeking a new start in the second half of his tenure.”

Chung apologized to the public for creating a fiasco in his unsuccessful efforts to transform the administrative town of Sejong City in South Chungcheong Province into a business complex.

After taking office as the country’s 40th prime minister last September, the former Seoul National University president sought to gain parliamentary approval for the revision bills with firm backing from President Lee.

In the face of fierce opposition from residents and a rift between rival factions of the governing Grand National Party (GNP), however, he struggled to make a breakthrough.

Chung came under pressure to step down after the GNP lost in the June 2 local elections. Opposition parties and independent candidates swept mayoral and gubernatorial posts that were up for grabs in the Chungcheong provinces.

His fate became increasingly uncertain in the weeks following as opposition parties and a GNP faction, led by former Chairwoman Rep. Park Geun-hye, combined forces to kill the bills.

Presidential aides said Cheong Wa Dae will soon name Chung’s successor.

Potential candidates include Kim Deog-ryong, a former GNP lawmaker and now an advisor to President Lee for national unity, Rep. Sim Dae-pyung, chairman of the minor opposition People First Party, and former South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Tae-ho.



국무총리 세종시 실패로 사퇴

내각 개편, 8월 초 될 듯

정운찬 국무총리는 재보궐 선거에서 한나라당의 압도적인 승리에도 불구하고 세종시 수정안 의 국회 통과 실패에 대한 책임을 지고 목요일 사퇴하겠다고 밝혔다. 세종시 수정안 부결 이후 정 총리는 사퇴의사를 밝혀온 바 있다. 이명박 대통령은 처음에 반대했지만 결국 정 총리의 사퇴의사를 받아들이기로 했다고 대통령 보좌관이 밝혔다.

정 총리의 사임은 이 대통령이 휴가를 다녀온 후 다음달 초 내각 개편을 단행할 것이라는 예측 속에 나왔다. 정 총리는 세종시 수정안으로 야기된 사회적 혼란에 대해 사과했다.

정 총리는 6.2 지방선거 때 한나라당의 패배로 인해 사퇴압박이 있었다. 당시 야당과 무소속의원들이 충청도를 휩쓸었다.

정 총리는 그 후 몇 주간 야당과 한나라당 박근혜 의원으로부터 세종시 수정안에 대해 거센 비판을 받으며 총리직 수행이 불확실해 지기 시작했다. 청와대는 곧 정 총리의 후임자를 선정할 예정이다.