Prime minister replaced after bitter poll losses
In a sweeping reshuffle, South Korean President Moon Jae-in yesterday replaced the prime minister and six other cabinet members in a bid to revive his party and his policy agenda, after devastating local election defeats.
Mr Moon named Kim Boo-kyum, a former interior minister and four-term lawmaker, to succeed Chung Sye-kyun as prime minister, and nominated new ministers of land, industry, fisheries, labour, and science and technology.
All six candidates are subject to parliamentary confirmation hearings, although lawmakers don’t have the power to block the appointment if the president presses ahead with formal appointment.
The reshuffle came about a week after Mr Moon’s leading Democratic Party suffered crushing losses in a special elections for key mayoral posts amid political scandals and economic policy blunders.
With the elections seen as a litmus test ahead of the presidential election next March, the ruling party’s defeat signalled a rough ride for Mr Moon’s policy agenda, including stopping runaway home prices and reforming powerful the prosecution system.
Mr Moon’s single fiveyear term ends in 2022.
Mr Kim could play a key role in bridging political strife and steering antivirus efforts, Mr Moon’s chief of staff You Young-min said.
Senior finance official Noh Hyeongouk becomes land minister and replaces Byeon Chang-heum, who resigned amid allegations that employees at a state-run property developer used insider information to profit from city development projects.
The scandal added fuel to public uproar over skyrocketing apartment prices, which have surged 28%.