A shake-up short on sizzle

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A shake-up short on sizzle

President Kim Dae-jung's cabinet reshuffle Tuesday is interpreted by many as Mr. Kim's search for stability rather than a new start. By bringing in Park Jie-won, his most trusted aide, and retaining Prime Minister Lee Han-dong and Deputy Prime Minister of Economy and Finance Jin Nyum, Mr. Kim has signaled that no sweeping policy changes are on the horizon.

While he did replace the deputy minister of education and human resources and the justice and unification ministers, political insiders said the changes are a game of musical chairs, not a shift in priorities.

The outgoing senior secretary for welfare and labor, Lee Tae-bog, will head the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The new unification minister, Jeong Se-hyun, and new labor minister, Bang Yong-suk, are members of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, although they do not hold National Assembly seats. The appointment of Mr. Jeong reflects the president's resolve to continue his sunshine policy; the new minister of commerce, industry and energy, Shin Kook-hwan, returns to the post he was ousted from in 2001.

Moving Lee Sang-joo, the outgoing Blue House chief of staff, to the Education Ministry was designed to clear the way for the return of Mr. Park to the Blue House. But his appointment could rekindle old rivalries within the ruling party, which is already bogged down by an internal power struggle. Mr. Park resigned as senior secretary for policy and planning in October 2001; ruling party reformists sought his head due to his role in a banking scandal.

Appointing Song Jeong-ho, a native of North Jeolla province, may be the boldest selection. The prosecutor general, Lee Myung-jae, is a native of South Gyeongsang province, and the cross-regional interplay between the justice minister and top prosecutor could bring unprecedented balance to the two agencies. The move also shows that the Blue House is serious about ending its influence on the prosecution.



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NEW LEADERSHIP PROFILE


Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Human Resources Development

Lee Sang-joo, 64

Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province / Busan College of Education / Seoul National University / Former presidential secretary for educational and cultural affairs; past president of Hallym University; former president of the Academy of Korean Studies; Blue House chief of staff.



Presidential Chief of Staff

Jeon Yun-churl, 63

Mokpo, South Jeolla province / Seoul High School / Seoul National University / Former assistant director of the Ministry of Legislation; former director general of the Price Policy Bureau at the Economic Planning Board; former chairman of the Fair Trade Commission; minister of planning and budget.



Minister of Unification

Jeong Se-hyun, 57

Jangsu, North Jeolla province / Seoul National University / Former vice unification minister; former adviser to the director of the National Intelligence Service on foreign affairs and national security.



Minister of Justice

Song Jeong-ho, 60

Iksan, North Jeolla province / Namseong High School / Korea University / Former chief prosecutor at the Gwangju High Prosecutors Office; former head of the Legal Research and Training Institute.



Minister of Science and Technology

Chae Yung-bok, 65

Cheolwon, Gangwon province / Gyeongdong High School / Seoul National University / Former head of the Korea Chemical Society; Chairman of Korea Research Council of Fundamental Science and Technology.



Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy

Shin Kook-hwan, 63

Yecheon, North Gyeongsang province / Seoul National University / Former head of the Industrial Advancement Administration; former minister of commerce, industry and energy.



Minister of Health and Welfare

Lee Tae-bok, 52

Boryeong, South Chungcheong province / Seongdong High School / Kookmin University / Founding publisher of the Korea Labor Daily News; senior presidential secretary for welfare and labor affairs.



Minister of Labor

Bang Yong-suk, 57

Jincheon, North Chungcheong province / Gwanghyewon High School / Former union leader of Wonpung Textile; assemblyman in the 15th National Assembly; president of Korea Gas Safety Corporation.



Minister of Planning and Budget

Chang Seung-woo, 54

Gwangju / Kyonggi High School / Seoul National University / Former head of the National Statistical Office; former deputy minister of maritime affairs and fisheries; member of the Monetary Board of the Bank of Korea.



Chairman of Presidential Commission on Small and Medium Business

Han Chun-ho, 57

Chilgok, North Gyeongsang province / Seoul National University / Former head of the Small and Medium Business Administration; former head of the Korea Productivity Center.



Special Adviser for Policy

Park Jie-won, 60

Jindo, South Jeolla province / Muntae High School / Dankook University / Former Democratic Party spokesman; former Blue House spokesman; former minister of culture; former senior secretary for policy and planning.



Senior Presidential Secretary for Policy and Planning

Kim Jin-pyo, 55

Suwon, Gyeonggi province/ Kyungbok High School/ Seoul National University/ Former chief of the Tax and Customs Office at the Ministry of Finance and Economy; vice minister of finance.



Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs

Cho Soon-yong, 51

Suncheon, South Jeolla province / Gwangju Il High School / Former chief of the political bureau at the Korean Broadcasting System; executive director of the Korean Broadcasting System.



Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs

Han Duck-soo, 53

Jeonju, North Jeolla province / Kyonggi High School / Seoul National University / Former vice minister of trade; former representative to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development.



Senior Presidential Secretary for Foreign Policy and National Security

Yim Sung-joon, 54

Seoul / Seoul High School / Seoul National University / Former head of American Affairs Bureau at Foreign Ministry; former ambassador to Egypt; deputy foreign minister.



Senior Presidential Secretary for Welfare and Labor

Kim Sang-nam, 57

Muan, South Jeolla province / Mokpo High School / Chosun University / Former auditor, chief of the Planning and Management Office at the Ministry of Labor; former vice minister of labor.



Blue House Press Secretary

Park Sun-sook, 42

Pocheon, Gyeonggi province / Changmun Girls' High School / Sejong University / Former coordinator of the Korea Women's Association United; former vice spokeswoman for the National Congress for New Politics.

by Kim Jin-kook

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