President Lee Myung-bak is going back to the drawing board to form a new and improved government by replacing officials at key posts with new talent. Reports indicate President Lee is expected to carry out a bold reshuffle which includes high-ranking ministry officials in line with a sweeping government overhaul.

The reorganization of personnel may come before the year is out, and a Cabinet shakeup may follow as the president gears up for his second year in office.

An official at the presidential office played down charges that the administration will show a heavy hand in the envisioned facelift of ministries and stressed that the reshuffle is voluntary.

Government insiders say at least five ministries including the Unification, Agriculture and Knowledge Economy Ministries, are being mentioned for replacing their assistant minister-level officials and policy directors.

The wind of change has already swept the Education Ministry, where in an unprecedented move all seven of its directors-general submitted their resignations earlier this week.

Last weekend, three high-ranking officials at the National Tax Service stepped down.

President Lee's shakeup is not just about forming a new team but is also about clamping down on bureaucracy and freeloaders.

In separate policy briefings by finance-related agencies the president clarified on who he thinks are best qualified to work for his government. The Korean leader said public officials should be determined in their work and have a "very forward-looking” mindset.

While the ruling Grand National Party is calling the Lee administration's house cleaning long overdue, opposition lawmakers have branded the reform plan as a ploy to "bully" officials.

Arirang News