President replaces two ministers

Kang Ho-in

By Kang Seung-woo

President Park Geun-hye conducted a partial Cabinet reshuffle, Monday, replacing two ministers, six vice ministers and a senior presidential aide for security affairs.

Park named Kang Ho-in, a former administrator of the Public Procurement Service, as the minister of land, infrastructure and transport, and promoted Oceans and Fisheries Vice Minister Kim Young-suk to minister.

The two are subject to the National Assembly confirmation hearings.

The reshuffle came as current transport and maritime ministers Yoo Il-ho and Yoo Ki-june are expected to run for an Assembly seat in next year’s general election.

Park also tapped Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yong to fill the vacancy left by Kim Kyou-hyun, the deputy chief of the National Security Office who will take over from outgoing senior presidential secretary for security and foreign affairs Ju Chul-ki.

Six vice ministers were also replaced.

Lim Sung-nam, Seoul’s ambassador to Britain, was appointed as vice foreign minister and Hwang In-moo, a former vice chief of staff of the Army, will serve as vice defense minister.

Four other vice ministers at the finance, education, health and maritime ministries will be replaced as well.

“President Park conducted personnel management as part of the government’s efforts to effectively administrate state affairs and push for reform,” said Kim Sung-woo, senior presidential secretary for public relations.

Although the chief presidential press secretary did not mention it, an additional Cabinet reshuffle is looming because several more Cabinet members are expected to run in the general election, scheduled for April 13, 2016.

Among them are Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan, Education Minister Hwang Yoo-yea and Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hee-jung.

Cabinet members must step down 90 days ahead of the election ― the deadline is Jan. 14 ― if they plan to run.