South Korean President Park Geun Hye Conducts Cabinet Reshuffle; Replaces Two Ministers And Senior Presidential Secretary For Foreign Affairs
The presidential office announced on Monday that South Korean President Park Geun Hye did a partial Cabinet reshuffle which affected two ministers, top secretary for foreign affairs and six vice ministers.
The New York Times reported on the same day that the move comes after the accusations that the South Korean government allegedly covered up that the United States had declined to transmit certain technologies that will be used in the development of South Korea's own fighter jet.
The South Korean president selected career diplomat Kim Kyou Hyun to take on the position as the senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs. Former top secretary Ju Chul Ki reportedly offered to evacuate the position after the government was criticized by lawmakers for its handling of the KF-X Project.
According to reports, Kim joined the Foreign Ministry in 1980. The career diplomat is said to have knowledge in handling ties with both North Korea and United States after spending several years at the South Korean embassy in Washington and the ministry's North American affairs bureau.
Meanwhile, Park appointed Cho Tae Yong as the chief of the National Security Council secretariat. Aside from that, the president also replaced the transport and maritime ministers who reportedly plan to run in the general elections in April, Korea Herald noted on Tuesday.
"President Park has conducted a reshuffle to effectively push ahead with her major state agendas and reform drive," senior presidential press secretary Kim Sung Woo reveals.
Further reports have revealed that Park selected Kang Ho In to be the head of Land and Transport Ministry, while vice maritime minister Kim Young Suk was promoted to be the head of the ministry.
Current ambassador to United Kingdom Lim Sung Nam was appointed as the first vice foreign minister and former vice chief of staff of the army Hwang In Moo was named as the new vice defense minister after Park conducted a reshuffle of vice-ministerial spots among six ministries.
In addition, the South Korean president reportedly plans to conduct another set of Cabinet reshuffle after some ministers and presidential secretaries expressed their desire to run in the upcoming general elections.
