Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL632
2006-02-27 08:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

ROH TO RESHUFFLE CABINET NEXT WEEK

Tags:  PGOV PINR KS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #0632 0580858
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 270858Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6198
UNCLAS SEOUL 000632 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS
SUBJECT: ROH TO RESHUFFLE CABINET NEXT WEEK

REF: SEOUL 14

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLS HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.

CABINET RESHUFFLE PART II
-------------------------

UNCLAS SEOUL 000632

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS
SUBJECT: ROH TO RESHUFFLE CABINET NEXT WEEK

REF: SEOUL 14

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLS HANDLE ACCORDINGLY.

CABINET RESHUFFLE PART II
--------------


1. (SBU) Roh Administration officials, including the Prime
Minister, have signaled another partial Cabinet reshuffle to
be announced next week. Three ministers -- Oh Geo-don
(Maritime and Fisheries),Oh Young-kyo (Government
Administration and Home Affairs),Lee Jae-yong (Environment)
-- appear certain to resign in order to run as Uri candidates
in the May 31 regional elections. Two others -- Chin Dae-je
(Information and Communications) and Chung Dong-chae (Culture
and Tourism) -- are also likely to step down.


2. (SBU) Blue House source say that President Roh will
announce the reshuffle next week, just before he departs
March 6 on a tour of African nations (Egypt, Algeria,
Nigeria). This would complete the traditional new year's
reshuffle that began in January with changes at the
Ministries of Unification; Health and Welfare; Commerce,
Industry and Energy; and Labor (REFTEL).

MINISTERS TO RUN AS URI CANDIDATES
--------------


3. (SBU) The ministers to step down in next week's Cabinet
reshuffle have all but announced their intention to run as
Uri candidates in the following key regional races:

- Oh Geo-don: Mayor of Busan (incumbent is Hur Nam-sik of the
Grand National Party (GNP))
- Oh Young-kyo: Governor of S. Chungcheong Province (inc.
Shim Dae-pyung of the People-Centered Party (PCP))
- Lee Jae-yong: Mayor of Daegu (inc. Cho Hae-nyoung of the
GNP)
- Chin Dae-je: Governor of Gyeonggi Province (inc. Sohn
Hak-kyu of the GNP)
- Chung Dong-chae: Mayor of Gwangju (inc. Park Kwang-tae of
the Democratic Party (DP))


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the five Cabinet members likely
to resign have built up considerable name recognition during
their tenures, they will be mounting campaigns against heavy
odds. All are intending to run in regions traditionally
dominated by other parties and generally anathema to the Uri
Party, and they will be doing so as support rates for
President Roh and the ruling party have reached a nadir (low
20s). That said, economic indicators are inching upward and
new Uri Chairman Chung Dong-young appears to have hit a chord
with his attacks on the corruption of old-school local pols,
most of whom are affiliated with the GNP (in eastern
Youngnam) and the DP (in western Honam). END COMMENT.
VERSHBOW