S. Korean PM offers resignation
0 
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un-chan resigned Thursday after 10 turbulent months in office, in a move primarily seen as taking responsibility for the government's failure to secure parliamentary approval for the revised Sejong City plan.
In a nationally televised address, Chung said "I'm quitting the post of prime minister, taking all the responsibility."
He had offered his resignation a number of times after the National Assembly on June 30 voted down a government's proposal to scrap the original Sejong City plan of moving nine ministries and four government agencies out of Seoul.
Plans for the new town were introduced by President Lee Myung- bak's predecessor, the late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, after his initial effort to entirely relocate the capital was deemed unconstitutional.
Chung became the strongest supporter for President Lee's opposition to the plan when he took office in September last year, drafting a revision to make Sejong City a science-business hub instead.
However, the failure of passing the revised Sejong City bill, coupled with the humiliating defeat of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) in the June 2 local elections, had forced Chung to take full responsibility.
Chung's resignation offer came as a surprise as it came after the GNP swept to victory in parliamentary by-elections Wednesday, giving a boost to President Lee halfway through his five-year term. GNP candidates won five of the eight parliamentary seats up for grabs, while the main opposition Democratic Party took three.
"With the conclusion of major political events, the president got a chance to make a fresh start of the latter half of his term, " Chung said in the news conference. "I, therefore, judged that it was my last chance to resign as a responsible civil servant of the state."
Chung's resignation is expected to accelerate a Cabinet reshuffle that has been expected to take place early next month.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments