The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae struggled Friday to choose a replacement for Defence Minister Kim Tae-young, who is disgracefully resigning over the North's recent artillery attack, amid reports of problems in the process of screening major candidates.
Announcing President Lee Myung-bak's decision Thursday to accept Kim's resignation offer made in May, presidential chief of staff Yim Tae-hee said Cheong Wa Dae would name his successor on Friday.
Cheong Wa Dae conducted mock confirmation hearings for Lee Hee-won, presidential adviser for national security, and Kim Kwan-jin, former
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, earlier Friday, a move to prepare for a parliamentary confirmation hearing session and to avoid possible political setbacks. In South Korea, a minister-designate should go through the
National Assembly's confirmation hearing, although the nomination itself does not require its approval.
Officials in Cheong Wa Dae, the Prime Minister's Office and the ruling Grand National Party informally told Yonhap News Agency that Lee Hee-won was chosen.
But a senior Cheong Wa Dae secretary for public affairs told reporters after the release of related news that the presidential office is "in last-minute reviews" over whom to select among "multiple candidates," including Lee.
He added that Cheong Wa Dae would be able to announce a nominee within the day.
"We are not set to make the announcement yet," a Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters. "As soon as a decision is made, we will let you know."
An informed source said, "Some problems in the qualification of candidates have been found during the mock confirmation hearing."
A local newspaper reported earlier Friday that Lee Hee-won was involved in a suspicious real estate trade that may be seen as property speculation.
Cheong Wa Dae neither confirmed nor denied the news report, reiterating that screening procedures are still under way.