S. Korea shakes out cabinet but keeps key ministers<\/p>\n
SEOUL (Reuter): South Korean President Kim Young-sam carried
\nout a cabinet reshuffle yesterday but kept foreign, defense and
\nkey economic ministers, a presidential spokesman said.<\/p>\n
Kim also retained Prime Minister Koh Kun in the shakeout
\naffecting half of the 22-member cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"This reshuffle reflects President Kim's intention to pursue
\neconomic and securities policies effectively, while managing the
\nDec. 15 presidential election in a strict, fair manner,\"
\nspokesman Yoon Yeo-joon said.<\/p>\n
He said seven of those dropped from the cabinet were members
\nof the ruling New Korea Party. They were ministers for
\nagriculture, environment, health and welfare, maritime affairs
\nand government administration as well as two political affairs
\nministers.<\/p>\n
Home Affairs Minister Kang Oon-tae was replaced by former
\ngovernment administration minister Cho Hae-nyoung and Justice
\nMinister Choi Sang-yup by senior prosecutor Kim Jong-koo.<\/p>\n
Opposition parties have asked Kim to appoint new home affairs
\nand justice ministers as Kang and Choi had been deeply involved
\nin formulating election-related policies.<\/p>\n
Government officials said Kim kept ministers responsible for
\nforeign and security policies ahead of crucial four-nation talks,
\ninvolving the two Koreas, the United States and China.<\/p>\n
They are Deputy Prime Minister and National Unification
\nMinister Kwon O-kie, Foreign Minister Yoo Chong-ha and Defense
\nMinister Kim Dong-jin.<\/p>\n
The talks are aimed at hammering out a lasting peace on the
\nKorean peninsula, the last Cold War flash point, by replacing the
\n1953 armistice that ended the three-year Korean War.<\/p>\n
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kang Kyong-shik
\nretained his post despite the fact that he is a member of the
\nruling party. Kang said he would quit the party soon.<\/p>\n
Kang and Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Lim Chang-yeul
\nstayed in the cabinet as the president wanted the continuity of
\ncurrent economic policies, Kim's aide said.<\/p>\n
South Korea has pledged to press ahead with reforms to
\nintroduce greater competition and modernize the financial
\nindustry despite financial woes involving some major industrial
\nconglomerates.<\/p>\n
In the latest of a string of South Korean businesses pushed to
\nthe brink of insolvency, the Jinro Group, the country's eighth
\nlargest conglomerate, is currently fighting with its creditors to
\ndefend itself from a third-party takeover.<\/p>\n
Kia has run into financial difficulties after expanding
\nmassively in its steel unit while its auto-making flagship was
\nhit by slumping sales.<\/p>",
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