[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As the Moon Jae-in administration enters its fifth year in power and accelerates its national governance drive, rumors of an internal reorganization within the Blue House are emerging. Attention is also focused on the scale of the cabinet reshuffle, which is expected to coincide with the replacement of Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun.
Kang Min-seok, the Blue House spokesperson, stated on the 14th regarding reports of Lee Kwang-chul, the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, expressing his intention to resign, "We cannot confirm personnel matters related to the Blue House." This was in response to recent media reports that Lee and Kim Young-sik, the Senior Secretary for Legal Affairs, had tendered their resignations amid the Blue House reorganization process.
The Blue House has not provided any definitive response regarding whether these officials have indeed offered their resignations. However, since this year marks the final year of President Moon's term, it is known that the necessity for organizational restructuring within the Blue House itself is being raised.
There are also forecasts that President Moon, who spent the holiday period at the Blue House deeply contemplating national governance plans, will soon proceed with a cabinet reshuffle. In particular, the replacement of Prime Minister Chung, who is considered a "next presidential candidate," has become a foregone conclusion, with only the timing undecided. Political circles expect Prime Minister Chung's resignation to come as early as March or, at the latest, shortly after the April 7 by-elections. Although there were predictions that he would be replaced in the early-year reshuffle, the worsening COVID-19 situation delayed the timing of the replacement.
Whether Hong Nam-ki, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, who will become the longest-serving economic minister in history after March this year, will be replaced is also a matter of interest. There was no change in the economic team during last month's minor reshuffle, and although calls for Hong's resignation have surfaced within the ruling party, President Moon has also shown support by directly endorsing him in senior secretaries and aides meetings, suggesting he may retain his position. Replacing the economic chief amid the economic difficulties caused by COVID-19 could also be seen as a burden.
Additional reshuffles are expected for ministries excluded from last month's reshuffle, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Among them, Minister Sung Yun-mo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor have served more than two years, and Minister Moon Sung-hyuk of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will reach two years in office this coming April.
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