Kim Jong-pil Driving Hard Bargain Over State Shakeup

The perennial political boss Kim Jong-pil, honorary president of the United Liberal Democrats, is stalling President Kim Dae-jung's plan to reshuffle party and government leaders － and, most notably, to fire Oh Jang-seop, minister of construction and transportation.

The shakeup must be cleared with Kim Jong-pil because his United Liberal Democrats are a coalition partner of the president's Millennium Democratic Party, and the two have a bare one-vote majority in the 273-seat National Assembly.

The Blue House chief of staff, Han Kwang-ok, called on Mr. Kim at his residence Monday to seek an agreement on the planned overhaul. He failed to narrow differences or to set a date for a one-on-one meeting between the two Kims.

A top member of Kim Jong-pil's party said Mr. Kim was discontented with the ruling party's attempt to blame fellow United Liberal Democrat Mr. Oh for Korea's loss of air-safety certification from the U.S. FAA, and with its efforts to mend fences with the opposition.

Mr. Kim, known for his ambiguous responses, told reporters, "I know you must be frustrated. But when the time comes, you will know everything."

Those close to Mr. Kim believe he told Mr. Han that Mr. Oh cannot be sacked. But others suggest that Mr. Kim will not oppose the sacking if the new minister is tapped from his party, or if both Mr. Oh and the unification minister, Lim Dong-won, a trusted aide of President Kim Dae-jung, are jettisoned in the rumored overhaul.

Chung Woo-taik, minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, and Chang Che-shik, minister of commerce, industry and energy, are the other cabinet members from Kim Jong-pil's party.

A meeting between the two Kims is unlikely before Monday. Kim Jong-pil leaves Friday for a four day trip to Japan.

by Kim Jin-kook