Beef Protests Fan Calls for Cabinet Reshuffle

Voices are getting louder in the ruling Grand National Party that a Cabinet reshuffle is needed to soothe public anger over the resumption of U.S. beef imports.

Growing public hostility over the matter caused the massive defeat of the party in by-elections Wednesday.

The Lee Myung-bak administration is taking a cautious approach towards a reshuffle, however, warning of a vacuum in state administration and suggesting instead measures to turn around public sentiment.

Ruling party lawmaker Kim Hak-won told a party leaders’ meeting yesterday, “We need to review the meaning of the severe (by-election) defeat. It appears that a Cabinet reshuffle is being delayed, but now is the time to make a prompt decision and show our renewed determination.”

Many party members said the presidential office needs a reshuffle first since it is primarily responsible for state administration. Parliamentary confirmation hearings are needed to fill Cabinet posts, thus a reshuffle now could lead to a vacuum in leadership, they added.

Another party member, Gong Sung-jin, said, “We cannot change public sentiment by replacing a few figures in the Cabinet and the presidential office. The presidential staff should be totally replaced without delay.”

Party members also blamed presidential aides for failing to correctly understand reality and public affairs, with one lawmaker saying, “The presidential office should appoint politicians within the party, including former lawmaker Park Hyung-joon and Chung Jong-bok, who have been working for President Lee Myung-bak in key public affairs positions, so that they can help narrow the gap between the president and the public.”

The Korean Bar Association also held an emergency meeting of its standing board of directors to urge a sweeping reshuffle in the presidential office, saying, “The issue cannot be resolved by replacing a few ministers or adopting stop-gap measures.”

Conservative scholars are also urging the firing of Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and the ministers of agriculture, health and welfare, and education.

In response, an official at the presidential office said, “Even if all presidential aides resign, the main opposition party will not relent. They will demand replacing the prime minister and the president. The U.S. beef issue should be resolved and strong measures to improve the people’s livelihood are the first priority.”

“With the June 10 civic uprising day (when U.S. forces in 1871 attacked Korea’s Ganghwa Island) expected to serve as a watershed for the protests, specific actions will be announced later,” he added, suggesting that the reshuffle might come in the middle of next week.

The president’s “Dialogue with the People” scheduled for Monday was postponed. Instead the presidential office plans a senior government–ruling party consultation with the prime minister to announce measures to help the people’s livelihoods, including alleviating the effects of high oil prices.

President Lee will also hold a meeting with leaders of Buddhism (today), Christianity (Saturday) and Catholicism (Monday) to collect opinions on the direction of the Cabinet reshuffle.

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