Lee nominates new PM, six Cabinet members in reshuffle

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak carried out a major Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, nominating a new prime minister and five other ministers, and also naming a nominee to a newly created post.

Chung Un-chan, a former head of Seoul National University, was nominated for
prime minister, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Kim
Tae-young, was tapped for defense minister.
"Prime Minister-designate Chung is expected to be able to assist the president in
his pursuit of people-friendly policies as he is one of our country's most
well-known economic experts and has the leadership and global network to help
integrate our society," Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for the presidential office
Cheong Wa Dae, told a press briefing.
Rep. Choi Kyoung-hwan of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) was picked for
minister of knowledge and economy and Vice Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam was
tapped to be promoted to minister.
Two other GNP lawmakers were also nominated. Yim Tae-hee, former head of the
ruling party's policy committee, was nominated to become the new labor minister,
and First Vice Floor Leader Joo Ho-young was picked for minister without
portfolio, a new post that does not head a particular ministry but has a vote in
Cabinet decisions.
The nominations apparently heed to repeated requests from the ruling party to
include more of its lawmakers in ranking government posts.
"The three minister-nominees from the parliament shows the president's
willingness to improve his communication with the party and also reflect the
party's opinions in his government policies," the Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman said.
A Cheong Wa Dae official said tasks for the new minister without portfolio would
include improving the government-ruling party ties, although not limited to that
role.
"He will handle most of political affairs, including the relationship between the
government and the party and the relationship between the ruling and opposition
parties," the official told reporters, asking not to be identified.
Paik Hee-young, a professor at Seoul National University, was nominated for
minister of gender equality, becoming the only female candidate in the largest
Cabinet reshuffle by President Lee since he came into office in February last
year.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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