President Lee Myung-bak is to announce a Cabinet reshuffle and other measures to overhaul his stumbling government this week. Prime Minister Han Seung-soo met with the president for three days in a row since Lee returned from his state visit to China on Friday, and urged the personnel reshuffle.
A key Cheong Wa Dae official said the reshuffle will probably sweep away figures who “proved politically inept” over the U.S. beef controversy like Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Chung Woon-chun and Minister for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs Kim Soung-yee.
The announcement will also include various measures to stabilize living conditions for ordinary people hard hit by high oil prices, and follow-up measures to the import of the U.S. beef. The ruling GNP plans to finalize the details of the announcement after a meeting with President Lee and party Chairman Kang Jae-sup on Monday morning, and a government-ruling party consultative meeting with Han on Tuesday.
