Ruling, opposition parties fail to agree on gov't reorganization

Talks between the country's ruling and main opposition parties on the envisioned government restructuring ended without an agreement Sunday, possibly causing difficulties for the new Park Geun-hye administration that is set to come into office later this month.

   "We were unable to reach an agreement today," Chin Young, deputy chief of Park's transition team, told reporters following his meeting with officials from the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP).

   The meeting between the DUP and ruling Saenuri Party was aimed at reaching an agreement on details of Park's plan to reorganize the government that includes renaming some of the government ministries, along with a parliamentary schedule to legislate such changes.

   "We will continue to meet in the future," said Chin, who was tapped Sunday as the new welfare minister.

   Park and her transition team apparently wish to implement the proposed changes before Park's inauguration on Feb. 25.

   As of Sunday, Park has named nominees for heads of all 17 state ministries, including the future creation and science ministry that will be newly established under her proposed changes to the government structure. (Yonhap News)