Ministers to Lose Jobs For Series of Bungles

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Ministers to Lose Jobs For Series of Bungles

President Kim Dae-jung, with his administration coming apart at the seams over social and diplomatic miscoordination, will reshuffle five or six ministers, a source close to the president said on Tuesday.

Ministers up for replacement are Choi Sun-jung of Health and Welfare, Kim Yoon-ki of Construction and Transportation and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lee Joung-binn, political insiders said.

The reshuffle may come as early as next week or after the meeting between government and ruling party on March 28.

The three ministries are responsible for the nation's health system, which has been careening toward crisis ever since a medical reform took effect last July; the new Incheon International Airport, which has been beset by pre-opening problems; and failures of policy coordination that led to the recent diplomatic confusion between Seoul and Washington over the U.S.-proposed national missile defense system and the proper stance to take toward North Korea.

"These disputes directly bear on public sentiment. The president is opting for a way out of the doldrums," a key insider said. "A reshuffle of five to six ministers is a move being strongly considered by the president, to heighten transparency and trust in government policies."

The reshuffle stems from the political need of a president who has pledged to build a "strong government," at the outset of the second half of his five-year tenure. He leaves office in February, 2003.

Meanwhile, the opposition Grand National Party called on Prime Minister Lee Han-dong and the entire cabinet to step down for recent series of policy flops.


by Lee Yang-soo

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