President-Elect Names S. Korea Cabinet Lineup

President-elect Roh Tae Woo announced his new Cabinet lineup Friday, retaining seven ministers from the old Cabinet and placing three hard-liners in top security posts.

Roh, who takes office next Thursday, has pledged to usher in full democracy in South Korea. But political observers said the makeup of his Cabinet indicates that Roh is favoring stability.

Roh urged new ministers to maintain administrative continuity in the face of legislative elections, economic problems and the Olympic Games in Seoul.

The former general demanded that the next government establish a fresh moral standard to gain public trust, but opposition parties said his Cabinet lacks freshness and background.

Technocrats, Ex-Military Men

The new lineup of 20 ministers plus a prime minister and deputy prime minister contains many technocrats and academics. Five figures with military backgrounds were appointed as ministers of defense, labor, communications, transportation and government administration.

Opposition parties had rejected Roh’s invitation to field candidates for the Cabinet, charging that Roh would continue the authoritarian rule of outgoing President Chun Doo Hwan no matter what they did.

Turning down Roh’s invitation limited the opposition’s influence on the makeup of the new Cabinet, but it also relieved the opposition of responsibility for the policies of the new government.

Roh, who helped Chun seize power in 1980 with military backing, won the presidential election last December after promising to end the country’s long tradition of military domination.

He faced two principal opponents, Kim Young Sam and Kim Dae Jung, who split the opposition vote, allowing Roh to win with just under 37% of the total.

New Defense Minister

Roh gave the top security posts to three hard-liners: new Defense Minister Oh Ja Bock, Home Minister Lee Sang Hee and Justice Minister Chung Hae Chang.

Oh, who replaces Chung Ho Yong, retired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in December and retains considerable influence in the military. He is expected to be Roh’s link to the armed forces.

Ahn Moo Hyuk was retained as head of the powerful intelligence organization, the Agency for National Security Planning, whose director works with the Cabinet but is not a member.

Other ministers retained by Roh included Foreign Minister Choi Kwang Soo, Finance Minister Sakong Il and Sports Minister Cho Sang Ho.

Experts in Economic Posts

Roh stressed his desire to ensure sustained economic expansion by filling economic posts with noted experts.

His economic considerations were underlined Feb. 11 when he named Lee Hyun Jae, a political moderate and noted economics professor, as prime minister.

The top economic post went to a leading technocrat, Rha Woong Bae, who was promoted from trade minister in the old Cabinet to deputy prime minister and economic planning minister.

Calls for Export Drive

“Right now, we are on the threshold of entering from a developing country to an advanced country,” Roh told the new Cabinet in calling for a renewed export drive.

Economic ministers pledged to give top priority to ensuring price stability. Roh has promised development projects, but the new government is expected to adopt a tight money policy.