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30th August, 2010
SEOUL: The man nominated to be South Korea’s next prime minister announced his withdrawal Sunday following opposition pressure over alleged misconduct when he was a provincial governor.
Two others nominated for ministerial posts also stepped down, in a political blow to conservative President Lee Myung-Bak.
Kim Tae-Ho, 47, was put forward for prime minister three weeks ago as part of a major cabinet reshuffle by Lee, who is midway through his five-year term. His appointment had been awaiting approval by parliament.
“I am giving up the designation in order not to do more damage to the president’s political operations,” Kim told a press conference.
“Even if I become prime minister, how could I do anything if I do not have people’s trust?” he said, terming some of the allegations unfair.
Kim came under fire during a parliamentary confirmation hearing last week over charges that he under-reported income, illegally took bank loans for election campaigns and made local government employees do his household chores while he was governor of South Gyeongsang province in the southeast.
Lawmakers criticised Kim’s wife for allegedly using provincial government employees and vehicles for private purposes.
Kim was also accused of lying about links to a businessman jailed for offering bribes to politicians.
The presidential office, announcing his nomination on August 8, said Kim was expected to play a key role in improving communications with the younger generation. He would have been the youngest prime minister for almost 40 years.
The office said Sunday it would respect Kim’s decision and would also accept the resignations of Shin Jae-Min, the nominee for culture minister, and Lee Jae-Hoon, nominated for knowledge economy minister.
“We have decided to accept the resignations as they are in line with public opinion,” presidential chief of staff Yim Tae-Hee told reporters. “We will make more efforts to straighten up our political operations.”
Lee’s conservative Grand National Party (GNP) suffered a major defeat in June local elections, although it bounced back by unexpectedly winning five of eight parliamentary by-elections on July 28.
The reshuffle announced on August 8 – involving the prime minister and seven ministers – was meant to shore up support especially among young people.
But the departure of three candidates will become a “big embarrassment” for Lee and his administration, said Lee Nae-Young, professor of politics at Korea University.
“Now the whole meaning of Lee’s ambitious cabinet reshuffle is seriously weakened,” Lee told AFP.
“It will take some time until the president can find new cabinet members and establish a stable platform for political decision-making.”
Even some ruling party lawmakers had started to voice disquiet.
The GNP said in a statement Sunday the nominees’ departure was “an opportunity for a rethink about senior public servants’ ethical standards”.
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