Who are the potential replacements for the South Korean Prime Minister?

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is facing pressure to reshuffle his cabinet following the heavy defeat of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in the general election on April 10.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has yet to make an official statement regarding the cabinet reshuffle. (Source: THX)

Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, Chief of Staff to the President Lee Kwan-sup, and other high-ranking officials in the Presidential Office have all resigned.

As of April 12th, President Yoon had not made any official statement regarding the cabinet reshuffle.

However, sources familiar with the matter say he will soon make a decision, and the position of Chief of Staff to the President is expected to be filled first, possibly on April 14th.

Those mentioned as potential candidates for the position of Chief of Staff to the President include Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee; Jang Je-won, a lawmaker from the PPP Party; and Lee Dong-gwan, former Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission.

Similarly, candidates mentioned to succeed Prime Minister Han Deok-soo include former PPP chairman Kim Han-gil, Kwon Young-se, lawmaker Joo Ho-young, and former lawmaker Park Joo-seon.

The selection of a successor to the Prime Minister is said to be based on the criterion of a "cooperative and harmonious" working style.

Meanwhile, on April 12, lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, a former partner in President Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential campaign, stressed that the entire cabinet and all of President Yoon's top aides should resign en masse following the heavy defeat in the 22nd National Assembly election.

Mr. Ahn, who was re-elected to the 22nd National Assembly, stated in an MBC interview that mass resignations are necessary to bring in new, competitive personnel for the Cabinet and the presidential office. Mr. Ahn asserted that comprehensive reform and overhaul in the direction of state affairs are essential.

The PPP suffered a crushing defeat in the election, winning only 108 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, while the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and the anti -government Korea Construction Party won 175 and 12 seats, respectively.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhan-su-tiem-nang-thay-the-thu-tuong-han-quoc-la-ai-267695.html