President may replace tax, police, spy chiefs: official

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak is expected to replace his
government's tax, intelligence and police chiefs for various reasons, including
alleged involvement in irregularities, a presidential aide said Friday, adding
the reshuffle could take place as early as this weekend.

The move comes after the head of the National Tax Service, Han Sang-ryule,
submitted his resignation on Thursday to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae,
holding himself responsible for allegations of his involvement in an emerging
corruption scandal.
"The president may accept Han's resignation as early as tomorrow and start the
nomination process for his successor to make sure there is no leadership vacuum,"
a Cheong Wa Dae official said earlier Friday.
The reshuffle is expected to also include the chief of the National Police
Agency, Eo Cheong-soo, who has been strongly criticized for the police's harsh
crackdown on protesters during massive rallies over U.S. beef imports last year.
Kim Sung-ho, the head of the National Intelligence service, is also expected to
be replaced if the president decides to reshuffle his top officials, according to
an official at the presidential office, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Kim, a former justice minister under the previous liberal government of Roh
Moo-hyun, is also said to have lost the president's trust for his agency's
apparent failure to contain last year's massive protests over U.S. beef, as well
as several inaccurate intelligence reports regarding North Korea and its leader.
The official, however, said the personnel changes will not constitute a Cabinet
reshuffle that involves ministers.
Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for the presidential office, has said a Cabinet
reshuffle will not take place at least until after the Lunar New Year's Day,
which falls on Jan. 26.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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