Special Affairs Minister Lee to resign

SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Special Affairs Minister Lee Jae-ho, one of President Lee Myung-bak's closest confidants, will step down later Wednesday to concentrate on his role as a lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party, an official said.
Minister Lee, who is regarded among the ruling bloc's presidential hopefuls, was one of the three Cabinet ministers concurrently holding parliamentary seats, along with the health and culture ministers. President Lee carried out a Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday in part to replace those ministers so that they could focus on their roles as lawmakers.



In the reshuffle, the president nominated new health and culture ministers. Aides said that the president does not plan to name a new special affairs minister for the time being.
Lee took the post last year shortly after winning a parliamentary seat in a by-election.
An official with the ruling camp said that Lee will submit his resignation to the president and have lunch with his aides before holding a resignation ceremony later Wednesday.
jschang@yna.co.kr