Prime Minister Follows Orders

President Kim Dae-jung will line up his new cabinet Friday with a new prime minister, as Prime Minister Lee Han-dong will stand by his resignation and return to the United Liberal Democrats, sources said Wednesday.

The prime minister is at the center of an odd drama that has unspooled in the wake of the breakdown of the ruling coalition. Despite his offer of resignation, the ruling Millennium Democratic Party and its chief, President Kim Dae-jung, have made overtures to retain him, both to ensure a smooth transition to a new cabinet and also to leave open the possibility of patching up the coalition. The United Liberal Democrats called the overtures political maneuvering to deal them a blow.

The prime minister, a six-term lawmaker, has a record of being a political turncoat.

Following Monday's vote against Unification Minister Lim Dong-won that dissolved the government coalition, Mr. Lee handed in his resignation along with the 21 other cabinet members. He shocked his party Tuesday when he resigned from presidency of the United Liberal Democrats.

The prime minister visited Kim Jong-pil, the chief boss of the United Liberal Democrats, at his residence Wednesday morning to press for continuation of the coalition and to say that he intended to remain in office.

Mr. Kim strongly rebuked Mr. Lee, and before leaving on a previously scheduled trip to Japan announced that his sheep was returning to the fold.

"No matter how low political morality has fallen, are these the times for him to remain in the prime minister's office?" Mr. Kim thundered. "He will return to the party."

Mr. Kim had used stronger words the night before as rumors flew that the prime minister would remain in the ruling camp. "Can a human being do such a thing?" Mr. Kim roared incredulously to reporters. "Don't tread on his integrity like that."

Mr. Kim wooed Mr. Lee away from the opposition Grand National Party in January 2000.

Signing the visitor's log Wednesday at the 17th conference for parents with disabled children, which was held at the Olympic Weightlifting Stadium, Mr. Lee acknowledged the end of his tenure, saying, "This will be my last sign-in as prime minister." He is expected to step down Friday after giving formal approval to the presidential cabinet choices.

The Blue House continued to keep the option of his retention open, saying, "It has not been decided." But the presidential office has reportedly embarked on a search for a new prime minister. A strong emerging candidate is a former prime minister, Lee Soo-sung.

"We are looking for a non-Chollan, who can talk with the opposition," a senior ruling-party official said.

Cabinet members up for change are Yang Seung-taik, minister of information and communication, Han Kap-soo, minister of agriculture and forestry, Chung Woo-taik, minister of science and technology, and Kim Yong-chae, minister of construction and transportation, who was appointed Aug. 22. Possible candidates for unification minister include a former deputy unification minister, Chung Se-hyun.

Eleven of the 22 cabinet members were appointed in the March 26 reshuffle; they have served slightly more than five months in their offices.

Overhaul of the ruling party leadership and Blue House senior secretaries will follow the cabinet reshuffle. Representative Han Hwa-kap, a core member of Donggyo-dong, the president's faction, is likely to replace party chairman Kim Joong-kwon. Blue House chief of staff Han Kwang-ok is also up for change.

by Kim Jin-kook