`I Oppose a Cabinet Reshuffle Just for Change`s Sake`

President Lee Myung-bak has ruled out a Cabinet reshuffle just for the sake of change, saying changing ministers too often is undesirable.

The president said this in a meeting with ruling Grand National Party Chairman Park Hee-tae and the leader of the minor conservative Liberty Forward Party Lee Hoi-chang at the presidential office Saturday.

Liberty Forward Party spokeswoman Park Seon-young said, “President Lee was probably hinting at no Cabinet reshuffle.” The president is under heavy pressure to change his Cabinet lineup.

The meeting was President Lee’s first in two and a half months with leaders of the ruling and opposition parties since one held April 6 immediately after the Group of 20 Summit in London.

Main opposition Democratic Party leader Chung Sye-kyun, who has demanded a presidential apology over the bribery investigation into the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, did not attend the meeting.

On the specifics of “fundamental measures” he mentioned in a radio address before leaving for a summit in Washington, President Lee said, “I’ll talk about them later.”

At the meeting, Lee Hoi-chang said, “The president should personally step up to resolve the chaos in state administration, and one way to do that is to prepare a nationwide presidential address as soon as possible.”

Chairman Park said, “The president should personally communicate with the public on television.”

To this, President Lee responded, “I see your point and will talk to the public if I have the opportunity.”

The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae is also known to be reviewing whether to announce the administration’s stance on the direction of national affairs and the timing and format of the suggested presidential address if it takes place.

yongari@donga.com