South Korea's unification minister offers resignation (AP) Updated: 2005-12-27 17:09
South Korea's Unification Minister offered to resign on Tuesday to return to
the country's troubled ruling party, an aide said.
Chung Dong-young expressed his desire to quit at a breakfast meeting with
President Roh Moo-hyun, said Kim Sang-il, an aide to Chung.
"The ruling party is in a difficult situation and the party wants him back,"
Kim said.
Chung was a former chairman of the ruling Uri Party before taking the current
post, where he spearheaded South Korean government's efforts to foster political
and economic exchanges with North Korea.
South Korean Unification Minister Chung
Dong-young answers a reporter's question during a news conference in Seoul
December 27, 2005. [Reuters] | He has led several South Korean delegations to North Korea for Cabinet-level
talks and has met Kim Jong Il.
The ruling party has seen its popularity wane amid soaring property prices
and a scandal involving a failed government-funded oil project in Russia.
"I plan to devote myself to helping the party regain public confidence,"
Chung was quoted as saying in an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news
agency.
Chung's resignation has been widely expected as he has already hinted at his
resignation by the end of the year to return to the ruling party and prepare to
run in the 2007 presidential election.
Chung, a telegenic news anchor-turned-politican, has been considered one of
the most likely candidates for the 2007 presidential election to succeed Roh.
In by-elections in October, the ruling party failed to win a single seat out
of the four at stake.
The ruling camp's popularity has been low _ below 20 percent according to
local media _ amid public discontent over stagnant job growth, rising housing
prices and unsatisfactory reforms.
In by-elections in April, the party lost all 23 races to opposition
parties.
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