Upcoming Cabinet Reshuffle

President Kim Dae-jung will conduct a wide-ranging reshuffle of his cabinet on August 7 when he is expected to replace 8-10 cabinet ministers. The move is seen as an attempt to refocus his government for the second half of his term.

Presidential press secretary Park Joon-yong announced the cabinet reshuffle saying, "The Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) will not take all of the seats in the new cabinet. Also, no Assemblymen will enter into the new cabinet, since they must concentrate on their work in the National Assembly.

Park also said, "There has been some confusion in the division of economic responsibilities," hinting at the need for a drastic cabinet reshuffling in the economic ministries.

Jin-nyum, the Minister of Planning and Budget, is the odds-on favorite to succeed Lee Hun-jai as minister of Finance and Economy. The Minister of Planning and Budget will be promoted to the status of Deputy Prime Minister after the reform of the government organization law. Former assemblyman Chang Eul-byung is expected to become Minister of Education and No Mu-hyun has a good chance of being appointed minister of Health and Welfare. Oh Ho-keun, the current chairman of Daewoo's restructuring committee is rumores to be the next chairman of the Financial Supervisory Board. Chang Duk-goo and Ryoo Shee-yul, the former president of Cheil Bank, are also mentioned as possible selections for chairman of the Financial Supervisory Board.

President Kim is also planning to change some of Chong-Wa Dae's chief secretaries after the cabinet reshuffle.

by Kim Jin-kook