Moon to carry out partial Cabinet reshuffle as early as Wednesday

Jan 20, 2021, 08:38 am

AsiaToday reporter Lee Jang-won

President Moon Jae-in is expected to carry out a partial Cabinet reshuffle as early as Wednesday. Observers say that the president is expected to replace Park Young-sun, minister of SMEs and Startups, and other economy-related ministers. Park is reportedly preparing to resign to announce her bid in the Seoul mayoral by-election in April, regardless of whether or not the president nominates her successor.

“Minister Park plans to quit the job Wednesday in consideration of the schedule for the ruling Democratic Party’s (DP) race to pick its candidate for the election,” an official from the ruling party said on Tuesday. Therefore, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae is likely to announce its reshuffle of up to five ministers when Park announces her bid on Wednesday.

The ministers of industry, trade and energy; agriculture, food and rural affairs; culture, sports and tourism; employment and labor; and oceans and fisheries are reportedly under consideration to be replaced.

Vice SMEs and Startups Minister Kang Sung-cheon or former Vice Industry Minister Chung Seung-il are potential candidates to succeed Park. However, some believe that Vice Minister Kang may serve as acting minister for the time being.

Lawmaker Cho Jung-sik, former policy chief of the ruling party, is a potential candidate to be the next Industry Minister. Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority President Lee Yeon-seung is reportedly being reviewed as the next Oceans Minister in order to fill at least 30 percent of the Cabinet with female ministers, one of Moon’s pledges. For the culture minister post, former director of National Museum of Korea Bae Ki-dong is one of potential candidates.

If Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun decides to run for the presidency, there might be an additional reshuffle around next month. Kim Sang-jo, a top Cheong Wa Dae official in charge of policy issues, is one of potential candidates but some say there is a lower chance of Kim becoming the next prime minister. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki is expected to be replaced, while Education Minister Yoo Eun-hye and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha are expected to remain in office, observers say.

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