President Lee to meet new leaders of ruling party this week

SEOUL, July 10 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak plans to meet new leaders of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) this week to discuss various issues, including a pending free trade agreement with the United States, a senior official at the ruling bloc said Sunday.
Lee is scheduled to return home on Monday after wrapping up his three-nation visit to Africa and meet with the new GNP leadership on Thursday, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The ruling party picked veteran lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo as its new leader last week and selected new supreme council members as it looks to revitalize its image before parliamentary and presidential elections next year.
"The date for the first regular meeting between President Lee and GNP Chairman Hong was set for Thursday," the official said.
During the meeting, Lee is expected to ask the GNP leadership to make efforts to get the pending trade deal with the U.S. and military reform bills passed at the National Assembly, party officials said.
The free trade agreement with the U.S., signed four years ago, is now pending at the two nations' legislatures. South Korean opponents vow to block it, arguing that its renegotiated terms, especially on vehicle trade, are clearly in disfavor of South Korea.
Meanwhile, Lee is said to replace Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam this week and formally accept the resignation of Prosecutor-General Kim Joon-gyu, who offered to step down in protest over the recent parliamentary approval of a bill limiting the prosecution's investigatory power.
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