7 Ministers Replaced
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President Roh Moo-hyun Wednesday appointed Chung Soung-jin, 67, chairman of the presidential Korea Independent Commission Against Corruption (KICAC), as minister of justice. Chung replaces Kim Sung-ho, if confirmed by the National Assembly.
In a Cabinet reshuffle affecting seven minister-level officials, Im Sang-gyu, 58, minister of government policy coordination under the Prime Minister's Office, was named minister of agriculture and forestry.
Yoon Dae-hee, 58, senior presidential secretary for economic policy, was appointed as Im's successor.
Yoo Young-hwan, 50, vice minister of information and communication, was promoted to head the same ministry.
Kim Jong-hoon, 55, who served as chief negotiator to the free trade agreement (FTA) deal with the United States in 2006-2007, was appointed trade minister, replacing Kim Hyun-chong, 48, who was tapped as ambassador to the U.N.
Lee Jong-baek, 57, former chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, was named to head KICAC, while Lee Won-bo, 62, president of the Korea Labor and Society Institute, was picked to chair the National Labor Relations Commission.
Kim Dae-you, 56, chief of the National Statistical Office (NSO), was appointed senior presidential secretary for economic policy, and Lee Chang-ho, 51, asisant minister of planning & budget, replaced Kim of the NSO.
In the vice minister-level reshuffle, Lee Kwan-se, 53, assistant minister of unification in charge of inter-Korean dialogue, gained promotion to the post of vice unification minister.