No Cabinet Reshuffle Before Lunar New Year Day
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Cheong Wa Dae denied media reports that it will announce a Cabinet reshuffle in the next 2 weeks but said the reshuffle could take place after Seollal, or Lunar New Year's Day, which falls on Jan. 26.
``There have been no discussions about the replacement of Cabinet ministers,'' Cheong Wa Dae Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said Tuesday. ``We will conduct the reshuffle after Seollal if we must.''
The denial came after some newspapers reported that President Lee Myung-bak will replace several ministers in a few days, including Strategy and Finance Minister Kang Man-soo and Financial Services Commission Chairman Jun Kwang-woo, citing unnamed sources.
Other ministers who have been rumored to be replaced include Knowledge Economy Minister Lee Yoon-ho, Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee, Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong, Land and Transport Minister Chung Jong-hwan, Labor Minister Lee Young-hee and Culture and Tourism Minister Yu In-chon.
Following a Cabinet shakeup, Cheong Wa Dae may replace top officials of the National Intelligence Service, the National Police Agency, the National Tax Service and the prosecution, according to the reports.
Analysts predict President Lee may offer some Cabinet posts to aides of former Grand National Party (GNP) Chairwoman Park Geun-hye and those who served in key positions under the previous liberal governments to win a broader support for his reform plans.
Former GNP Chairwoman Park herself has been said to be one of the top candidates for being chosen as the next prime minister.
``Through a Cabinet shakeup, Cheong Wa Dae aims to strengthen unity in the ruling camp ahead of the by-elections in April and gain momentum for economic and public sector reform,'' a Cheong Wa Dae official said. ``The administration will focus on revitalizing the economy with a stimulus package and helping households and companies tide over the global economic recession this year.''