Chiefs of Key State Agencies to Be Replaced
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
The Lee Myung-bak administration is reportedly considering replacing the Prosecutor General and the heads of the National Tax Service (NTS), National Intelligence Service (NIS) and National Police Agency (NPA)as early as this weekend.
Replacing agency chiefs at the so-called big four major state agencies is imminent, an anonymous senior presidential aide was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
But there was no word on a reshuffle of ministers, according to the presidential aide.
Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Lee Dong-kwan announced earlier this month that any Cabinet-level changes would come after Jan. 26, Lunar New Year's Day, one of the most important holidays in the country.
The reports of replacing the top agency chiefs followed an announcement that Han Sang-ryule, the head of the NTS, has expressed his intention to resign.
Han has been mired in corruption allegations that he had given bribes to curry favors ― specifically it is said he gave an expensive painting to his predecessor. While Han denies the charges against him, an NTS spokesman stated that he ``officially expressed his intention to resign Thursday night to the presidential office.''
The presidential aide was quoted as saying that President Lee could officially accept Han's resignation within a day or two. A screening and nominating process to appoint Han's successor would start soon after to ensure there was no leadership vacuum, according to the aide Friday.
Some of names being mentioned as candidates to replace Han include Cho Yong-keun, chairman of the Korean Association of Certified Public Tax Accountants; Hur Yong-suk, commissioner of the Korea Customs Service; and Oh Dae-sik, a former investigation director of the tax service in Seoul.
Yonhap said that Eo Cheong-soo, the chief of the NPA, is also to be replaced. Eo has been in hot water since last year when police were accused of using excessive force in cracking down at rallies protesting against American beef imports. If Eo leaves his post, a leading candidate to be his successor is Kim Seok-ki, commissioner of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
Another official to be dropped is Kim Sung-ho, the head of NIS, according to the news agency.
Kim reportedly lost the administration's confidence when his agency failed to offer accurate information on the public mood and the widespread discontent over U.S. beef imports last summer amid reports highlighting the dangers of mad cow disease. Kim was previously an official under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, serving as a justice minister.
The other name being mentioned in the reshuffle is Prosecutor General Lim Chae-jin, but local reports indicate that he stands a good chance of keeping his job.