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South Korea's outgoing President Roh Moo Hyun (above) will be replaced in four weeks time by Lee Myung Bak, a former construction tycoon. -- PHOTO: AP
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SEOUL - SOUTH Korea's outgoing President Roh Moo Hyun threatened on Monday to veto plans by his successor to streamline the government by axing five ministries, including one handling relations with North Korea.
Mr Roh, who steps down in four weeks, said the plans now before parliament ran counter to the philosophy of his administration.
'Do you think it is reasonable for the outgoing president to sign the bill which conflicts with my values and philosophy?' he told a press conference.
Lee Myung Bak, a former construction tycoon who will be the nation's first president from a business background, has pledged to slim the government.
Mr Lee's transition team intends to shut down five ministries, including the unification ministry which handles relations with the North, as part of plans to cut 7,000 state jobs.
Other ministries to be axed or merged are maritime affairs, information and communication, gender equality and science and technology.
Overall, it would leave 13 ministries compared to 18 at present.
Mr Roh said such a shake-up is 'unprecedented in our history' and urged Mr Lee's conservative Grant National Party to map out a compromise bill through debate with other parties in parliament.
The pro-government United New Democratic Party and other liberal parties have a majority in parliament and say the closure of the unification ministry would sour inter-Korean relations.
During the past decade, South Korea's liberal governments have followed a 'sunshine' engagement policy with the North despite its missile launches and nuclear test.
Mr Lee has vowed to take a firmer line, but he has also offered the North the prospect of full-scale economic cooperation if its scraps all of its nuclear programmes. -- AFP
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