Song Ja likely to be education minister

President Kim Dae-Jung is likely to reshuffle several cabinet members early next week who will work with him for the second half of his five-year term. In the coming ministerial shuffle, several economic ministers will be replaced, while a few cabinet members related to diplomacy, national security and social and cultural affairs will also be switched.

Han Kwang-Ok, secretary general of the Chong Wa Dae staff, said in a meeting with reporters August 3 that President Kim would conduct a cabinet shakeup to usher in the second half of his term in office and continue his reform of state affairs. He said that the presidential appointments of new ministers would be made based on the recommendations of Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong in accordance with the law.

Chief presidential secretary Han declined to comment on the scope of the cabinet change, though it is known that the reshuffle will likely be mid-sized. Han said this matter should be decided on by the president. At the same time, only a few senior presidential secretaries are expected to be appointed as ministers or replaced.

Aiming to maintain the coalition partnership between the ruling Millennium Democratic Party and the minor opposition United Liberal Democrats (ULD), President Kim will consult with de facto ULD leader Kim Jong-Pil, now in Japan, on the posts to be filled by ULD members late this week, it was learned.

For the present, rumors have it that Jin Nyum, planning and budget minister, will be pegged for new finance-economy minister. Kim Chong-In, former public health-welfare minister, hopes to assume the top economic post. There is also a possibility, however, that Kim will be named chairman of the Financial Supervisory Committee or planning-budget minister.

As for the education minister, hopefuls include Song Ja, president of Myungji University; Oh Kee-Pyong, director general of the Asia-Pacific Foundation; and Rep. Chang Wol-Byung of the ruling MDP.