Park conducts partial Cabinet reshuffle

Yoo Ki-june, a lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party and former maritime attorney, was nominated as the new minister for oceans and fisheries, and Hong Yong-pyo, presidential secretary for unification, was tapped to head the Unification Ministry.

Park picked another Saenuri Party lawmaker, Yoo Il-ho, as the new transport minister, and NH Financial Group chairman Yim Jong-yong as head of the state financial regulator, the Financial Services Commission.

Officials said Park accepted Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon’s offer to resign but postponed announcing his successor, inviting fresh criticism from the opposition party.

Even the ruling party has long demanded Park to dismiss Kim, who has been under scrutiny for exercising too much power in state affairs and personnel choices.

Yoon Doo-hyun, senior presidential press secretary, said the president would name his successor after the three-day Lunar New Year holiday this week.

“Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon has offered to resign several times so far, and President Park Geun-hye has accepted that,” Yoon told reporters after a briefing on the new ministers. “I believe that (Kim’s) successor will be announced at an appropriate time after Lunar New Year.”

Park appears to have struggled to find a candidate to replace Kim who would be able to overturn the public’s growing criticism over her unilateral personnel choices. Critics say she appears to have delayed the nomination for a new chief of staff after her choice of Lee backfired.

The parliament endorsed Lee on Monday despite harsh partisan divide over his multiple ethical misdeeds, and he was appointed by the president on Tuesday morning. The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy accused Lee of evading military duty, speculating in real estate and intimidating reporters against publishing negative stories on him. Though Lee earned the parliamentary endorsement, the new prime minister is expected to face an uphill battle in restoring public trust in him.

With Lee joining the Cabinet, Park requested the new prime minister to play a key role in policy coordination to push her reform drive. Park’s three-year economic reform drive, the centerpiece of her state agenda, has been losing momentum in the face of political scandals and inconsistencies in her tax and welfare policies.

“We have a pile of reform issues to resolve, and I expect Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo to do well with his rich experience and leadership,” Park said during her weekly Cabinet meeting.

The president also urged ministers for concerted efforts to revitalize the economy and carry out reforms in the public sector, labor, finance and education.

“I hope the party, government and Cheong Wa Dae will work together for the passage of urgent bills to revive the economy,” she said.

Later in the day, Prime Minister Lee said he would devote himself to the government’s efforts to revive the sluggish domestic economy and enhance communication between the parties.

“I will lead a government that does not override the opposition party’s (demands), with my experience as floor leader of the ruling party, which regarded the opposition party as a crucial partner,” he said in his inaugural speech.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)