Major reshuffle in S Korea

The reshuffle is aimed at quelling public discontent

By Caroline Gluck in Seoul

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has ordered a major reshuffle of his cabinet as he battles a slump in public approval.

Casualties of the widely expected shake-up include Foreign Minister Lee Joung-binn, who offered his resignation over the weekend.

Kim's popularity ratings have plummeted

Mr Kim also replaced the defence and unification ministers, along with nine others.

The government is trying to boost flagging popularity amid widespread criticism of its handling of the economy and public health reforms

Gaffes

Three of Mr Kim's new appointees are members of his party's coalition partner, the conservative United Liberal Democrats.

The new foreign minister, Han Seung-Soo, a former ambassador to Washington, is from a small opposition party, the Democratic People's Party.

Outgoing Foreign Minister Lee offered to quit after a series of diplomatic gaffes.

The latest came on Friday, when he said the United States had pressed for Seoul's support for its controversial national missile defence shield.

Other prominent figures to go include the Construction and Transportation Minister, Kim Yoon-Ki.

Trouble

His dismissal came days before the opening of the country's troubled billion-dollar new international airport at Inchon, west of Seoul.

The head of the country's intelligence agency, Lim Dong-Won, who has played a key role in efforts to reconcile the two Koreas, has become Unification Minister, replacing Park Jae-Kyu.

The shake-up reflects growing public unhappiness over the performance of the government and its handling of economic and health reforms.

Just last week the health minister resigned, admitting that the country's health insurance system was now on the verge of collapse.

The reshuffle, which includes members of two other political parties, is an attempt to broaden the mandate of the administration.

President Kim's five-year term in office ends in less than two years' time.

His popularity ratings have plummeted and the shake-up is seen as an attempt to revive public confidence in the government and its determination to continue with its programme of reforms.