PM Han to Return to Ruling Party After Resignation

President Roh Moo-hyun said that he would leave the ruling Uri Party during a dinner meeting with party chairman Jeong Sye-kyun and other new party leaders at Cheong Wa Dae, sources said Thursday.

Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, who attended the meeting, said she would resign and return to the ruling party.

On Wednesday night, President Roh explained his plan to defect from the party and his future plans in detail to the prime minister.

The president is expected to leave the party before March 6 when the ongoing special parliamentary session ends.

President Roh does not seem to be keen to accept Prime Minister Han’s resignation immediately because the nomination of the next prime minister will take some time.

Prime Minister Han is likely to stay in the office until the selection of her successor is completed.

Kim Woo-sik, the deputy prime minister and minister of Science and Technology, and Lee Kyu-seong, the former minister of Finance and Economy, are mentioned as possible prime minister candidates.

It is not sure whether other ministers who were politicians of the governing party will be replaced, aside from Prime Minister Han.

A government official from the presidential office said, “We respect the wishes of the politicians-turned-ministers,” implying that the cabinet shake-up will be carried out on a small scale.

jyw11@donga.com