SEOUL — President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea replaced his prime minister on Thursday in a cabinet reshuffle that also removed the country’s defense minister, who had clashed with Mr. Lee over military spending.
Source: IHT
- Mr. Lee appointed Chung Un-chan, 61, a American-educated economist and a former president of Seoul National University, to replace Prime Minister Han Seung-soo. Mr. Chung, who earned his doctorate from Princeton University, is frequently described in the South Korean news media as a possible presidential candidate.
- Mr. Lee has been under pressure from his ruling Grand National Party to revamp his cabinet since the party suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary by-elections in April.
- Gen. Kim Tae-young, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was named defense minister. The man he replaced, Lee Sang-hee, made headlines last month when he sent a letter to the presidential office and some cabinet ministers complaining bitterly about the government’s spending plans for the country’s 650,000-member military.
- The Defense Ministry asked for a 7.9 percent increase, to 30.8 trillion won, or $24.7 billion, for next year. But the government reportedly suggested a 3.8 percent increase.
- General Kim earned a reputation as a hard-liner on North Korea when he told Parliament last year that if the North deployed nuclear weapons, South Korea would consider pre-emptive strikes.
- Choi Kyoung-hwan and Yim Tae-hee, both legislators affiliated with the ruling party, were named as knowledge and economy minister and labor minister, respectively. Joo Ho-young, another ruling party legislator and close political ally of the president, was picked as minister without portfolio. He will carry out assignments from the president and the cabinet.
- Lee Kwi-nam, former vice justice minister, was promoted to justice minister. Paik Hee-young, a professor at Seoul National University, will become minister of gender equality.
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