Massive Cabinet Reshuffling Unveiled

President Kim Dae Jung officially announced his new cabinet members on May 24 after a large-scale reshuffling. Eleven out of 17 cabinet positions were changed and three new minister-level positions were created in the first significant government shake-up this year.
Kang Bong Kyun, chief economic secretary to the president, was named the new leader of the Ministry of Finance and Economy while Prosecutor-General Kim Tae Jong was appointed the minister of justice.
Aju University's president, Kim Duck Jung, became head of the Ministry of Education, and former Kangwon Province Governor Lee Sang Yong is now the top man at the Ministry of Labor.
The newly-created, actually revived, Department of National Administration Publicity will have Oh Hong Keun as its new vice-minister. Mr.Oh previously had served more than 20 years at JoongAng Ilbo as a reporter and editorial writer.
President Kim will also replace Lee Jong Chan, chief of the National Intelligence Service, formerly the KCIA, but no successor has been chosen.
Kim Joong Kwon, chief secretary to the Blue House(Chong Wa Dae) explained the purpose of the realignment by saying, 'The new change is to fully prepare for the upcoming 21st century and full-blown globalization, which requires competent and efficient professionalism and the injection of non-politicians into the ranks of the government.'