Pres. Lee to Name Politician as New PM

President Lee Myung-bak has agreed to appoint a politician as prime minister but will not name politicians to the Cabinet.

He said this at a breakfast meeting Saturday with Ahn Sang-soo, the new chairman of the ruling Grand National Party.

Ahn told The Dong-A Ilbo the same day at the party’s office in Seoul’s Yeoido district, “In my first meeting with President Lee since taking office, I suggested appointing politicians as prime minister and the heads of three ministries.”

On the fate of Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, Ahn confirmed that Chung will be replaced by saying, “I suggested naming politicians for prime minister assuming that Chung will be replaced. The replacement is inevitable.”

“I will urge the president to name politicians to lead certain ministries a couple of times more through his chief of staff Yim Tae-hee,” Ahn said. “As the administration reaches the end of its term, the offensive from the opposition will intensify. So the importance of a minister’s ability to deal with state affairs from a political point of view will grow.”

Separately, former ruling party leader Park Geun-hye told Ahn Friday that she did not want the prime minister’s position.

“Since former leader Park made her position clear, the rumor of her becoming prime minister has been nullified. I did not mention her in my meeting with President Lee,” Ahn said.

The ruling party chairman also quoted President Lee as saying, “I’m proud that no corruption scandal involving my relatives has emerged since the latter half of my term in office has begun. I will do my best to prevent corruption by my relatives through the end of my term.”

kimkihy@donga.com