Cheong Wa Dae dismisses report of Cabinet shakeup as groundless

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office, on Monday
denied media speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle in the coming weeks.'

Some local newspapers said, citing unidentified senior government sources, that
President Lee Myung-bak may replace several long-serving ministers in February,
possibly shortly before the Lunar New Year's holiday that falls on Feb. 14, or
Feb. 25, the second anniversary of his inauguration.
According to some media reports, those on the list may include Foreign Minister
Yu Myung-hwan, Culture Minister Yu In-chon, Environment Minister Lee Maan-ee, and
Transport Minister Chung Jong-hwan, all of whom have worked in their posts for
nearly two years.
Park Sun-kyoo, spokesman at Cheong Wa Dae, refuted the reports, however.
"The president's thought is that he can shake up the Cabinet at any time if
necessary," Park told reporters. "But there is no specific time frame set for an
event-style Cabinet reshuffle."
That is President Lee's style to change his ministers, added Park.
In his latest Cabinet shake-up, conducted last September, Lee replaced the prime
minister and five ministers.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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