Minister Ahn Is Likely to Be Dropped

Ahn Jeong-Nam, the Minister of Construction and Transportation who had been suspected for the accumulation of his property, expressed his intention to resign from the office yesterday due to his bad health condition.

Minister Ahn made a phone call to his secretary saying that ``I might have to be hospitalized for a quite long time. I think I`d better resign from my office since the Minister`s office should not be absent for a long time.``

However, Cheong Wa Dae revealed its position to delay making any decision concerning Minister Ahn until the final result of the diagnosis comes out. A high official of Cheong Wa Dae hinted the resignation of Minister Ahn, saying ``the final result of the medical examination will come out after the Chuseok vacation.``

Minister Ahn was hospitalized on Sep. 27 when he was heading to his office in the morning and now is on the process of close examination for diabetes and the muscle cancer at the Samsung Medical Center.

Yun Seung-Mo ysmo@donga.com