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Shift in four major posts anticipated
President Roh Moo-hyun plans to reshuffle the Cabinet as early as the beginning of next week, as Minister of Education and Human Resources Development Lee Jin-pyo and Deputy Prime Minister of Finance and Economy Han Duck-soo tendered their resignations Friday. A key official of the presidential office said, "Two deputy prime ministers, the minister of budget and planning, and the chief presidential secretary for national policy are expected to be replaced. More than one candidate for each post is being considered. We will see the restaffing carried out next week." According to sources in the presidential office, Kwon O-kyu, chief presidential secretary for national policy, is favored to succeed Han Deok-soo. Kim Byong-joon, former chief presidential secretary for national policy, will likely be named new education minister.Byeon Yang-kyoon, minister of planning and budget, is expected to replace Kwon when he is promoted. Chang Byoung-wan, vice planning and budget minister, would be promoted to minister of planning and budget, the sources said. The upcoming reshuffle is minor, involving only four ministers, but it is meaningful nonetheless because core posts in the Cabinet and presidential office will be affected, and all are thought to be central players in towing the administration’s policy line. Kwon O-kyu and Kim Byong-joon have already served as chief presidential secretary for national policy. Regarding this, the core official of the presidential office said, "President Roh will focus on tackling income disparity and reforming education for the rest of his term. For this end, he has chosen former and incumbent national policy secretaries for two key posts." The sale of Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) at an illegally discounted price and Hyundai Motor Group’s slush fund scandal appear to have been a factor in the planned reshuffle. In addition, sources say, the presidential office intends to offer encouragement to the ruling party, which suffered a crushing defeat in the May 31 regional elections. However, the reshuffle is expected to raise criticism that President Roh’s choices for key posts were too narrow-minded. Kwon, who was senior presidential secretary for economic affairs as of mid-April, was promoted to chief presidential secretary for national policy at the end of May. Some observers said that Kwon is making a strong effort to win President Roh’s favor in order to become deputy prime minister for economy, a move less than a month following his last promotion. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Chun Jung-bae was expected to return to the ruling Uri Party and Moon Jae-in, previous senior secretary of civil affairs, was expected to succeed Chun, but Minister Chun will remain in office for now.
