Lee nominates new PM, 6 Cabinet members in reshuffle

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from prime minister-designate Chung in paras 4-6)
By Byun Duk-kun
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, said in a press briefing.
Chung listed national unity and economic recovery as his main tasks as a new
prime minister.
"What is important now is to assist the president in building a nation of a
strong economy and unified society, and that is my goal," the 62-year-old told a
press conference held shortly after his nomination.
Chung had often been critical of the president's economic policy, but argued
Thursday that he and President Lee share a belief in competition and
people-friendly policy.
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 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.
All Cabinet post nominees are subject to parliamentary confirmation hearings,
although legislative endorsement is not required for their appointment.
"The government will request the National Assembly to approve the nominations as
soon as it prepares all the related documents," the Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman
said.
The parliament has to open a confirmation hearing for each candidate within 20
days of the government's request. The National Assembly opened its 100-day
regular session on Tuesday.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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