Major Gov’t Reshuffle Expected Early Next Week

The government will announce the new line-up of the Cabinet and presidential office early next week, a presidential official said yesterday.

“A reshuffle of the Cabinet and presidential aides is likely at the same time early next week at the earliest,” the official told reporters.

The reshuffle will reportedly replace the prime minister and a number of senior presidential secretaries.

President Lee Myung-bak has yet to decide on the next prime minister, but will choose from several figures who share his philosophy of practical and centrist pragmatism, according to experts.

Several names have been mentioned in and out of the presidential office as candidates for prime minister. They include a lawmaker of the minor conservative Liberty Forward Party Sim Dae-pyung; former Seoul National University President Chung Un-chan; former North Jeolla Province Gov. Kang Hyun-uk; former lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party Kim Jong-in; and special presidential adviser for national integration Kim Deok-ryong.

yongari@donga.com