S Korea realigns presidential office

South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday it will realign some of its functions to achieve efficient and systematic management of the office, as President Lee Myung-bak starts out the second half of his five- year stint.

The office will discontinue the post of the senior secretary for state affairs planning and create an overseas public relations office, while restructuring other offices by combining their functions or separating them.

The realignment comes as Lee seeks a fresh start after a crushing election defeat of his governing Grand National Party in local elections in June. The presidential chief of staff Chung Sung-kill has offered to resign for the election debacle, and labor minister Yim Tae-hee is widely expected to fill the post.

Prime Minister Chung Un-chan is also expected to step down to take responsibility for failing to pass a government-initiated bill to revise the law aimed at moving parts of the government out of Seoul to form an administrative hub.

Lee will announce a Cabinet shakeup before by-elections later this month, according to local news reports.

Source: Xinhua