Opposition calls for mass cabinet resignation

The Grand National Party (GNP) called Tuesday for Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong and his cabinet to resign as a show of responsibility for the collapse of the medical insurance system. Some members of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) echoed the opposition`s demand for a cabinet reshuffle in the wake of the system`s failure.

President Kim Dae-Jung is expected to make cabinet changes this weekend or early next week to take the administration to task for the policy debacle and shake up the political sphere.

▽Cabinet changes -- GNP president Lee Hoi-Chang hurriedly convened a party executive council meeting where opposition leaders agreed to submit to the

National Assembly a resolution asking for the resignation of the entire cabinet, accusing President Kim of inept government management that resulted in a number of crises.

Party spokesman Kwon Chol-Hyeon said responsibility for the administrative breakdown must be shouldered by President Kim himself, instead of the prime minister or a couple of cabinet members, and urged Kim to fire the entire cabinet to introduce new reforms.

"The president should abandon leadership of the ruling party and concentrate on overcoming the governmental crisis," Kwon said. "If he decides to shift the blame onto a few ministers and remain as the MDP head, he may face impeachment."

▽Complaints from MDP -- Rep. Yu Yong-Tae told the governing party executive council that the government ought to let the people know what was wrong with the

medical insurance plan and that highly placed officials need to be held accountable for the problems.

Another party official said an early cabinet shakeup is desirable to sort out the controversy and regain public confidence. This should be followed by effective policy formulation, he said.

▽ Health and Welfare Committee -- Floor leaders of the three main political parties agreed to call a plenary session of the National Assembly Health and

Welfare Committee on March 23 to discuss issues related to the separation of doctors` and pharmacists` responsibilities and the cash-strapped medical

insurance system. Health and Welfare Minister Choi Seon-Jeong is expected to attend the meeting.

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com