JUSTICE, AGRICULTURE, OTHER MINISTERS TO RESIGN

UNCLAS SEOUL 002359 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KS SUBJECT: JUSTICE, AGRICULTURE, OTHER MINISTERS TO RESIGN -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Blue House is poised to undertake a significant change of personnel in the Cabinet. The Minister of Justice, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Minister of Information and Communication have all submitted their resignations, while the Ministers of Communication, Government Policy Coordination, Gender Equality and Family Affairs, and possibly others appear to be preparing theirs. Speculation abounds that Justice Minister Kim Sung-ho was forced out due to a public disagreement with President Roh over Roh's apparent violation of election laws. The other resignations may be an effort to tighten Blue House discipline in the run-up to the December presidential elections and to reward stalwart Roh supporters with Cabinet appointments. The President's foreign policy team appears to be safe for now, but could be in peril depending on developments in Afghanistan. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- MINISTER OF JUSTICE RESIGNS OVER ELECTION LAW SPAT -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Justice Minister Kim Sung-ho's August 6 resignation followed months of discord with the Blue House, which peaked following Kim's June 11 testimony at the National Assembly which squarely opposed the President. At issue was the ROK election watchdog's conclusion that the President had twice violated the election law by accusing the Grand National Party of corruption. President Roh said the law was unconstitutional; Kim, however, backed the watchdog agency and argued that the law was indeed constitutional. ¶3. (SBU) Kim has rubbed up against official Administration positions on other issues as well. For example, he made pro-business comments in December and January that became an irritant in government-labor relations. He also commented in July that prosecutors should cease an investigation of presidential contender Lee Myung-bak if Lee dropped his lawsuit against the government. Finally, in an apparent conflict with the President's policy of firmness against crimes committed by affluent criminals, Kim spoke out in favor of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon, who was implicated in an assault and battery case. Chung Sung-jin, Chairman of the Korea Independent Commission Against Corruption, appears to be the likely successor. -------------- AGRICULTURE AND INFORMATION MINISTERS RESIGN -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Park Hong-soo, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, also submitted his resignation on August 6 for reasons that are not clear, Publicly, Minister Park said he offered his resignation because, after serving a relatively lengthy two years and seven months, all necessary follow-up issues related to the KORUS FTA had been resolved. Others speculate, however, that he resigned due to complaints by farmers who feared the repercussions of an FTA with the United States. Yet others believe he may be preparing for a 2008 National Assembly bid. Another reason might be that Roh wants to reward his loyalists with Cabinet-level appointments. Possible candidates to take his place include Blue House Senior Economic Secretary Yun Dae-hee and Minister of Government Policy Coordination Im Sang-kyu. ¶5. (SBU) Information and Communication Minister Noh Joon-hyung, who has been in office nearly 18 months, also resigned on August 6. Although his stated reason was to "give a chance to other bureaucrats," some believe that he, too, is preparing for a National Assembly bid. Both Yun and Im are under consideration for this position as well. -------------- OTHER RESIGNATIONS POSSIBLE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Minister of Gender Equality and Family Affairs Jang Ha-jin, Minister of Labor Lee Sang-soo, and Minister of Government Policy Coordination Im Sang-kyu are all rumored to be preparing resignations as well. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (SBU) It was our understanding that the Blue House had been planning to reshuffle the Cabinet in September, when the National Assembly begins its regular session. Justice Minister Kim's resignation -- or ouster -- appears to have accelerated the event. To date, the President's foreign policy team appears to be safe; however, their political fate may be closely tied to the fate of the hostages in Afghanistan. STANTON