By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Some leaders of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) have expressed explicit discontent over its floor leader's ``untimely'' call for a Cabinet reshuffle and replacing presidential secretaries.
Chairman Park Hee-tae told a radio program that there has been no discussion regarding the matter inside the party.
``I think it is too early to speak about replacing ministers and presidential secretaries,'' he said.
Park made the comments, following floor leader Hong Joon-pyo's repeated calls for a Cabinet and secretarial reshuffle later this year.
On Monday, Hong said new, able Cabinet ministers and aides should support President Lee Myung-bak so as to help him move his reform drive forward.
Hong called the incumbent ministers and presidential secretaries ``ill-prepared and worn out.''
The floor leader said Lee nominated some Cabinet ministers and presidential aides whose ethics were questionable and some of them dropped out of the nominations at the very beginning of the new government.
``The trials and errors probably contributed to the ineffective first six months of the presidential term which achieved virtually no progress,'' Hong said.
Hong's blunt and straightforward speaking style not only invited criticism from GNP leaders and some presidential secretaries, but also fueled speculation over his motives for the remarks.
They said Hong chose the wrong words and a Cabinet reshuffle was not timely.
A presidential secretary said he didn't understand why Hong had spoken out now.
``The economy is going badly. The government has a lot to do. The ruling party and the presidential office are supposed to work closely together to cope with the challenging environment,'' said the secretary who wanted to remain anonymous.
``Hong's comments only do a disservice to the working relationship between the party and the presidential office,'' he said.
Rep. Gong Sung-jin, a member of the party's decision-making Supreme Council, said replacing Cabinet members is not Hong's job.
``The President will choose new members if he feels it is needed. It's not Hong's job,'' Gong said.
Floor leader Hong claimed he had no political intent with his repeated calls for a Cabinet reshuffle, saying everybody in the governing party talked about the need to replace ministers.
Hong did not confirm speculation over whether President Lee also shared his views, saying he would not comment on that.