President postpones reshuffle amid protest over squatter deaths

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office has decided to postpone
nominations for vacant ministerial-level posts initially expected this week as
the Lee Myung-bak administration prepares to begin the second year of its
five-year term, an official said Wednesday.

The decision follows the tragic deaths of six people Tuesday during a clash
between police and squatters demanding compensation for the loss of their homes
and businesses from a planned urban redevelopment project.
The government and the nominee for the National Police Agency chief have been
strongly criticized for what some see as a rash and excessive crackdown on the
protesters that led to the tragic incident, in which some 20 others were injured.
"There will not be an announcement of a follow-up Cabinet reshuffle today or
tomorrow. Because there has been a tragic incident, the government will focus all
its efforts in bringing the situation and public sentiment under control," the
official from the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae told reporters.
The follow-up nominations had been expected before the end of this week as
earlier Cabinet reshuffles, made Sunday and Monday, left the top posts at the
National Tax Service and the public administration ministry vacant.
The Cheong Wa Dae official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the
additional nominations will likely be made after the Lunar New Year's day, which
falls on Monday.
Hundreds of protesters and angry citizens gathered late Tuesday near the site of
the clash, some of them rounded up by police for questioning.
President Lee again expressed his condolences Wednesday to the families of those
who died in what he called a "heartbreaking" and "lamentable" incident, but said
the government must first find out what actually happened before holding anyone
responsible.
"It is heartbreaking and very lamentable that lives were lost in such a tragic
incident," the president said in a meeting with his top presidential secretaries,
according to an official who asked not to be identified.
"Such an incident should never happen again," he was quoted as saying.
Kim Seok-ki, tapped on Sunday to be promoted as head of the country's police
agency, is under pressure to step down for using excessive force against the
squatters.
A Cheong Wa Dae official again confirmed Wednesday that the nomination will not
be withdrawn unless he is found to be responsible for the deaths of the six
people.
"It is clear. We must first find out the truth of the incident. We must first
learn what actually happened so we will know who is responsible," the official
said.
Kim said Tuesday he will take responsibility if there is anything he should be
blamed for.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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