Gov't May Upgrade Education Minister to Vice-Prime-Minister Level

Acting Prime Minister Lee Han-dong announced on June 26 that "the government reorganization proposal is in the final stage of completion." He said "the current Ministry of Education will be reorganized as the Ministry of Human Resource Development (working title), and the minister will be promoted to vice-prime-ministerial level."

Lee said at his National Assembly appointment hearing that "government education policy in this new century is directed at allowing universities autonomy in making educational decisions. Moreover, the superintendent of educational affairs in cities and provinces will be fully responsible for elementary, middle and high school education." He explained that "the ministries related to the development of human resources, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Labor, will be integrated into the tentatively named Ministry of Human Resource Development."

The acting prime minister added, "Economic bodies are also suffering a lack of clear leadership as the finance and economy minister has only ministerial-level powers. Therefore, the government is considering a reshuffle to promote the finance and economy minister to the level of vice prime minister."

Meanwhile, Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister Choi In-kee reported that a proposal had been made to President Kim Dae-jung to revise Government Organization Laws on June 16 at Chong Wa Dae. The revision proposal includes plans to establish a Ministry of Women's Affairs (working title) and also the proposals to create positions of finance and education vice prime ministers, as well as to change the name of the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

A government source announced "the revision proposal will be reviewed at the vice ministers' meeting on June 29, and approved at the state council meeting on July 4. The proposed revision will be processed at an extraordinary session of the National Assembly during July."

by Chun Yong-gi