Cabinet Reshuffle to Take Place Early Next Week
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak will replace Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and about half of Cabinet ministers and senior presidential secretaries early next week, a presidential spokesperson said Tuesday.
Discussions are still underway at the governing camp to decide on Han's successor, the official said, adding the lineup of new ministers and secretaries will be announced at the same time.
"The reshuffle is likely to take place early next week and affect half of Cabinet members and presidential secretaries," the spokesperson told reporters on condition of anonymity. "Prime Minister Han will be replaced, but no decision has been made yet on who should become the next prime minister."
The indications came right after President Lee held a policy coordination meeting with Rep. Kim Seong-jo, chief policymaker of the governing Grand National Party (GNP), and other GNP lawmakers at Cheong Wa Dae.
Sources from the governing camp said Jeon Yun-churl, a native of Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, who served as chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection from November 2003 to May 2008, is among the top candidates to be the next prime minister. Others on the list include Rep. Sim Dae-pyung of the Liberty Forward Party and Lee Wan-koo, governor of South Chungcheong Province.
Former GNP Chairwoman Rep. Park Geun-hye, deemed one of President Lee's biggest political rivals, has also been touted as a key candidate for next prime minister, but she may not enter the Cabinet unless she mends fences with Lee. Instead, Lee may offer two or three Cabinet posts to lawmakers affiliated with her in a bid to promote unity in the ruling camp.
"It is highly likely that the next prime minister will be from Jeolla or Chungcheong provinces," a source said. "Lee may select people from a broad spectrum of regions and ideological groups to seek social integration and national harmony."
Lee initially planned to announce the new lineup early this month, but delayed it due to reports about the worsening health of former President Kim Dae-jung, the source said. Kim died on Aug. 18 at 85.
At the meeting with the GNP lawmakers, Lee discussed plans to reform the political sector, including redrawing of electoral and administrative districts.
Lee also asked the party to put top priority on the early passage of bills with relation to the livelihoods of ordinary people, according to the presidential office.