“High Officials Restrained from Overseas Trip“

Lee Han-Dong, the Prime Minister reportedly requested the government officials with higher status than that of Minister and vice Minister from overseas trips during the National Assembly session or emergencies such as drought and flood except for the inevitable occasions. This message was conveyed through `the instructions from the Prime Minister` on 16th.

The trips abroad are advised to be within a week as a rule of thumb, permitting up to 10 days with good reason, and the entourage is to be reduced as much as possible. And the heads of the administrative organizations are required to submit their officials` overseas trip plans attached with the purpose and itinerary of the tour to The Office for Government Policy Coordination (OGPC) by the end of January 2002.

And the plans should be consulted with the OGPC a month prior to the departure. Moreover the reports on the official overseas trips are required to be presented within 30 days after the return.

Young-Sik Kim spear@donga.com