South Korea set for cabinet reshuffle

A safe World Cup, which begins late May, is a priority for Kim

SEOUL, South Korea -- Under pressure from a spate of political scandals and a presidential election due later in the year, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung is expected to reshuffle his government this week.

Cabinet ministers were set to quit en masse during a meeting on Tuesday to pave way for the reshuffle but that has been postponed, local media reported.

YTN television said that the cabinet changes could come as soon as Tuesday after Kim meets with political and social leaders.

"Even if the whole cabinet does not tender its resignation, the reshuffle will be carried out," a presidential Blue House official told Reuters news agency.

Media speculation is that seven or eight ministers could be replaced, with an aim to ensuring fair elections, a safe and successful World Cup and a boost to the economy.

South Korea's economy has outperformed most of its peers and is forecast to grow about 5 percent this year, compared with 2.8 percent in 2001.

Kim, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his rapprochement policy toward the North, has suffered a popularity slide in South Korea because of political scandal and stalled North-South ties.

Though he has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the South Korean leader apologized publicly this month for the scandals involving government officials and vowed to fight corruption.

Kim's constitutionally mandated single five-year term expires February 2003 and a presidential election is due to be held in December.

Those cabinet ministers tipped to be replaced include Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo, Unification Minister Hong Soon-young and some of Finance Minister Jin Nyum's economic team.

YTN reported that Prime Minister Lee Han-dong was likely to stay.