President does not plan press conference or national address on FTA ratification


President Lee Myung-bak is pondering when and how to conduct another personnel and organizational reshuffle at Cheong Wa Dae, seeking to shore up public support and make the last year of his five-year term fruitful.

Speculation had abounded that he would carry out the reshuffle early next month in a display of his resolve for reforms after his Grand National Party’s defeat in last month’s Seoul mayoral by-election.

Lee, however, appears circumspect over the timing of the reshuffle as there are a series of pending issues such as the 2012 budget plan. New presidential staff will be crucial for him as they will be with him during the final year of his term, ending February 2013.

Some observers say the president may conduct the reshuffle at around the time when the regular parliamentary session ends on Dec. 9, or later that month. The reorganization is also intended to fill the posts to be vacated by the staff seeking to run in the general elections next year.

“(The president) has decided to conduct the reshuffle, but I believe he may not do that now. It will be carried out perhaps after issues such as the budget plan have been addressed,” a senior Cheong Wa Dae official told media.

Some observers said that the reshuffle may come later than expected as the parliamentary passage of the budget bill is likely to be delayed given the deepening standoff between the ruling and opposition parties.

The main opposition Democratic Party has begun boycotting all sessions at the National Assembly since the ruling party rammed the motion to ratify the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement through parliament on Tuesday.

After the GNP’s failure to retain the Seoul mayoral seat, Lee’s chief of staff Yim Tae-hee and policy planning chief Baek Yong-ho already expressed their intent to step down.

Public Administration and Security Minister Maeng Hyung-kyu, National Intelligence Service director Won Sei-hoon and Song Jeong-ho, Lee’s longtime friend and head of the Lee Myung-bak & Kim Yoon-ok Foundation, are being mentioned as possible candidates for the chief of staff.

Former Chung-Ang University president Park Bum-hoon is also said to be a possible candidate for the post. Senior presidential secretary for social affairs Park Hyung-joon was also mentioned for the post, but is said to have decided to run for an Assembly seat representing a district in Busan.

Lim was rumored to be preparing to run in the general elections, but his aides said that he has no intention of running in the race.

After the presidential policy chief resigns, Lee reportedly plans to merge the chief of staff and policy planning chief posts in efforts to enhance efficiency.

Through the envisioned reorganization, Lee may seek to strengthen the divisions for public relations and political affairs in apparent efforts to improve communication with the public and the political circles.

Following the personnel change at Cheong Wa Dae, a small-scale reshuffle of the Cabinet members is expected, observers said.

The ministerial seat for special affairs has been vacant since Lee Jae-oh returned to the GNP in August. It is also said that Lee is considering replacing Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon as he completed his mission of getting parliamentary endorsement for the Korea-U.S. FTA.

Meanwhile, the president has decided not to hold any special press conference or issue any national statement regarding the passage of the free trade pact with the U.S. Instead, he is expected to explain his position when he signs the pact into law, possibly during the Cabinet meeting set for next Tuesday.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)