Assembly to Pass Bill for Government Downsizing Today
New Cabinet to Be Launched Early March
By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President-elect Lee Myung-bak's first Cabinet is expected to be launched early next month as the two largest parties reached a compromise Wednesday on Lee's proposed government downsizing plan.
The National Assembly is to pass the bill today through consensus and President Roh Moo-hyun will Friday convene a Cabinet meeting to put the bill into law.
Lawmakers will soon hold confirmation hearings soon for the Cabinet nominees.
The compromise will preclude a possible power vacuum for the next administration but Lee's small government plan was greatly compromised.
After a month-long tug of war, the Lee's Grand National Party (GNP) accepted the liberal United Democratic Party's (UDP) proposal that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family be retained.
In return, the UDP agreed to abolish the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Earlier, the two parties agreed to retain the Ministry of Unification.
Under the agreement, three of the current 18 ministries will be shut down. Two of four ministry-level agencies will be also scrapped. Lee had originally planned to shut down five ministries.
As a result, the incoming President was able to avert a worse situation in which he would have had to govern without officially-designated Cabinet ministers.
Roh's spokesman Cheon Ho-seon hinted at the bill's passage in Roh's final Cabinet meeting before his tenure ends on Feb. 25, saying, ``We believe the agreement somewhat reflected our demand (to retain the gender equality ministry and the unification ministry)."
The dramatic agreement came after UDP co-leader Sohn Hak-kyu conceded to the GNP's request to shut down the maritime affairs ministry. ``There are few changes in my position that the maritime affairs ministry should remain intact, but I have made up my mind to make a concession to help the incoming administration to make a fresh start," Sohn told a press conference earlier in the day.
After undergoing a parliamentary hearing probably from the middle of next week, the new Cabinet composed of ``15 plus one'' ministers will likely be launched early next month. After the April 9 general elections, Lee plans to appoint one more minister who will take on political affairs.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will be renamed the Ministry of Gender Equality and the functions of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will be transferred to other ministries such as the Ministry of Homeland and Maritime Affairs.
A Gender Equality Ministry official said there were days of twists and turns. ``Anyway, it is delightful that we survived.''
But he said ministry workers are still alert over the possibility of having its functions curtailed, possibly to the level of a committee.
The gender equality ministry achieved a few landmark changes. Korea's male-oriented family registry system was abolished and an individual registry set up, shifting the registry basis from the patriarchal bloodline to each member of a family. Also, a sex trafficking ban was legislated.
The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development will be renamed the Ministry of Education and Science, Technology. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will be reborn as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Parties also agreed to rename the Ministry of Health and Welfare as the Ministry of Health and Family.
The Government Information Agency ― which conducted a controversial media policy of closing government pressrooms last year ― will be absorbed into the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Ministry of Planning and Budget will also be merged into others including the Ministry of Planning and Finance.