Governing Party Wants Sweeping Cabinet Reshuffle
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
The presidential office is expected to announce a new line-up of Cabinet ministers and presidential secretaries this week or next, including figures from a wide spectrum of political factions, sources from the governing camp said Monday.
The reshuffle is aimed at creating a fresh momentum for the Lee Myung-bak administration amid growing concerns over political instability following the death of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.
"It is time to seek change," Ahn Sang-soo, floor leader of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) told reporters. "A large-scale Cabinet reshuffle is necessary at this moment to win more support for state policies. The governing camp should seek various measures to make a breakthrough in this situation."
GNP sources said President Lee may include politicians from Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces in the new Cabinet to seek national unity and ease tension with opposition parties.
The sources expected Lee to replace Prime Minister Han Seung-soo. Potential candidates to succeed Han include Lee Wan-koo, governor of South Chungcheong Province, Shim Dae-pyong, a leader of the Liberty Forward Party, and former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Jeon Yun-churl.
"The Cabinet reshuffle may take place this week or next," a source said. "Lee may include figures from a broad spectrum of political and ideological groups to achieve national harmony and social integration."
The governing camp is also embroiled in a heated race for the leadership after Chairman Park Hee-tae made an official announcement that he would run in the October by-elections on the GNP ticket.
The veteran politician expressed his interest in running in the GNP's home turf of Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, during a meeting with President Lee early this month.
Many junior GNP lawmakers have called on Chairman Park Hee-tae to leave his post before he runs in the upcoming by-elections. Once Park resigns, Rep. Chung Mong-joon is to become an acting chairman, also making the governing party leadership younger than at present.
President Lee is known to be discussing the planned Cabinet reshuffle, as well as measures to address regional and ideological divisions, with his aides.
Reports have indicated that the presidential office may announce a new Cabinet line-up this month, citing unnamed sources, but presidential spokespeople have denied the speculation.
President Lee is expected to pick ministers aged in their 40s and 50s to make the Cabinet portfolio younger. Lawmakers in their 40s and 50s in the governing party are under review, sources said.