5 Ministers Reshuffled

President Kim Dae-Jung reshuffled five cabinet members yesterday and appointed Hong Soon-Yong the ambassador in China as a new Unification Minister.

The President appointed former vice-Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Kim Tae-Dong as a new Minister of the department, Rep. Yoo Yong-Tae of NMDP as the Labor Minister, Ahn Jeong-Nam the Commissioner of the National Tax Service as the Minister of Construction and Transportation, and Rep. Yoo Sam-Nam of NMDP former Chief of the General Staff of ROK Navy as the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

By the reshuffle yesterday, all of the cabinet members from ULD lost their positions including Jeong Wu-Taek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Han Gap-Soo Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and Kim Yong-Che Minister of Construction and Transportation. In consequence, the `DJP coalition` has broken down and the President created independent cabinet for the first time since his inauguration.

Park Joon-Yong, the spokesperson of Cheong Wa Dae, explained that ``this reshuffle focused on the specialties, the will to reformation, and the driving force of the figures to maintain the stability of the national administration and to move forward to the reformation projects of the people`s government on their own responsibilities.``

President Kim Dae-Jung will complete the reorganization of the party by appointing Han Kwang-Ok the Chief Secretary to the President as the Chairperson of NMDP by Sep.10.

The next Chief Secretary to the President is reportedly to be a person from outside the circle and Park Ji-Won the Policy Planning Secretary, Nam Gung-Jin the Political Affairs, and Park Joon-Yong the spokesperson will stay on their offices.

All of the major high officials of NMDP including the Secretary General and the chairperson of the policy-making committee are known to be changed at this reorganization.

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com