PM offers resignation, Cheong Wa Dae likely to carry out reshuffle on Fri.

Apr 16, 2021, 09:29 am

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President Moon Jae-in speaks during a ministerial meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on April 15, 2021./ Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporter Lee Jang-won

Cheong Wa Dae, which has been seeking to turn the table after the ruling Democratic Party (DP) suffered crushing defeat in the April 7 mayoral by-elections, will carry out a major Cabinet reshuffle on Friday, including naming a new prime minister. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who has already expressed his intent to resign, is expected to run in the 2022 presidential election. The presidential office is also expected to undergo a partial reshuffle of senior presidential secretaries.

“Prime Minister Chung has already offered his resignation to President Moon Jae-in,” said an official of the ruling DP on Thursday. “Cheong Wa Dae is expected to make an official announcement on Friday,” the official said. A new prime minister nominee is expected to be announced together with the news of Chung’s resignation.

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Boo-kyun is the most likely candidate to be tapped by Moon as his third prime minister. As Kim’s hometown is Daegu, a traditional stronghold for conservatives, he is evaluated for being qualified as a prime minister symbolizing regional integration. Other potential prime minister candidates include former Korea International Trade Association chairman Kim Young-joo and former Minister of SMEs and Startups Park Young-sun.

Chung has been on the forefront in handling the COVID-19 crisis, contributing to the success of the K-quarantine. He visited Iran on April 11-13 in order to smoothly end the detention of the Hankuk Chemi before his resignation.

As Chung jumped into the presidential race, he is expected to be the third potential candidate for the ruling party. With his solid support base in his party and pro-Moon supporters, the six-term liberal lawmaker is expected to shake up the ruling bloc’s presidential candidate composition.

Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki will serve as acting prime minister before the next prime minister is officially installed.

Along with the prime ministerial post, Cheong Wa Dae is expected to replace the heads of five or six ministries, including the ministries of transport, labor, trade, fisheries and agriculture. Observers say ex-government officials are expected to be appointed to most of the positions. However, DP lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo and former Minjoo Party lawmaker Kim Hyun-kwon are potential candidates for fisheries minister and agriculture minister, respectively.

Cheong Wa Dae is also likely to carry out a reshuffle e of senior presidential aides and secretaries. Choi Jae-sung, the president’s senior secretary for political affairs, and Yoo Chang-yul, Moon’s senior secretary for social policy, are expected to be replaced.

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