Home>News Center>World
         
 

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.
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.



Tsunami victims remembered
Christmas in Sydney
Pope Benedict XVI leads Christmas mass
 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

China's mobile phone subscribers hit 388m

 

   
 

US$35.8 billion of funds abused this year

 

   
 

China and Japan discuss UN reform

 

   
 

Drug to treat human case of bird flu developed

 

   
 

Family of three die in suspected suicide blast

 

   
 

Law to curb gov't power over house relocation

 

   
  Israel strikes Gaza to enforce buffer zone
   
  Inmates hold more than 200 hostages in Brazil
   
  Bush hoping to win more battles in 2006
   
  Iraq violence leaves at least 2 dozen dead
   
  Saddam relative said claims to reject deal
   
  Philippines to charge four US soldiers for rape
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement