Cabinet reshuffle affects 11 ministerial posts

President Kim Dae-Jung conducted a major cabinet reshuffle on August 7, appointing Planning-Budget Minister Jin Nyum new finance-economy minister and Song Ja, former president of Myongji University, education minister. The shakeup also affected eight other ministers and the chairman of the tripartite labor-management-government panel, a ministerial-level post. With the proposed legislation elevating the status of the finance-economy and education ministers, the new appointees will be promoted to deputy prime ministers. Chang Yung-Chul, a former lawmaker of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, was named tripartate committee chairman.

In the reshuffle, President Kim replaced many economic ministers, naming Fair Trade Commission Chairman Jeon Yun-Churl new planning-budget minister. Jun`s post was filled by Lee Nam-Jee, vice chairman of the Fair Trade Commission. Designated the chairman of the Financial Supervisory Committee, whose appointment is subject to the cabinet approval, was Lee Keun-Young, president of the Industrial Bank of Korea. The commerce-industry-energy(MOCIE) minister position, which was assigned to the MDP`s coalition partner, the United Liberal Democrats, went to Han Kap-Soo, president of Korea Gas Corporation. Shin Kook-Hwan, formerly head of the industrial promotion agency, was named MOCIE minister.

President Kim appointed former labor minister Choi Sun-Jung new health-welfare minister, and labor-management-government commission chairman Kim Ho-Jin filled Choi`s old post. Noh Moo-Hyun, former MDP lawmaker, was named maritime-fisheries minister.

Explaining the background of the cabinet shuffle, presidential spokesman Park said that the President intends to implement continuous reforms in state affairs and to secure national competitiveness to usher in the 21st century on the basis of successfully overcoming the economic crisis. Park also said that follow-up personnel reshuffles of vice ministers and presidential secretaries would be made if necessary in the near future, indicating that the changes could come within this week. Meanwhile, President Kim presented letters of appointment to newly designated ministers in the day, with the exception of the Financial Supervisory Commission chairman-designate. After the presentation of the appointment letters, Kim asked them to maintain a tight grip on their business affairs and to promote inter-ministerial teamwork so their accomplishments will be evaluated favorably.

The president stated that in greeting the 21st century, his government must pursue five major policy goals -- the consummation of human rights, the fostering of a technology-information state, realization of productive welfare, attainment of grand national reconciliation, and inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation. With the steadfast implementation of these tasks, the ministers` fruits should be handed over to the next government and posterity, the president added.