South Korean Prime Minister Goh Kun tendered his resignation on Monday ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle by President Roh Moo-Hyun, officials said.
"Prime Minister Goh tendered his resignation today," an official at Goh's office told AFP, adding that the resignation would take effect as soon as the president accepted it.
Roh's spokesman Yoon Tae-Young confirmed that the prime minister had tendered his resignation, adding that Roh will consider the matter soon.
"It will be decided sooner or later," Yoon told journalists.
Goh's had announced he would resign following President Roh's return to office on May 14 after a two-month suspension following a parliamentary vote to impeach him.
Goh served as interim president until the Constitutional Court reinstated Roh, who took office in February in 2003.
Yonhap news agency said Roh was considering a "minor cabinet reshuffle" which would affect the ministers of unification, culture-tourism, and health and welfare only. President Roh had asked Goh to recommend new ministers in his planned cabinet reshuffle before resigning, but the prime minister has refused to do so, according to officials.
"It is not desirable for an outgoing prime minister to recommend new ministers in consideration of the spirit of the Constitution," Goh was quoted as saying by one of his aides.
Seoul's YTN cable news television forecast Goh's resignation would effectively delay the planned cabinet reshuffle because Roh also needs to find a new prime minister which requires parliamentary approval.
The reshuffle, which had been planned for this week, would be pushed back until next month as the newly-elected parliament opens on June 7, YTN said.
YTN said Roh wants to name Chung Dong-Young, a former ruling Uri Party chairman, and Kim Geun-Tae, a former Uri Party floor leader, as ministers of unification and culture-tourism, respectively.
Chung and Kim are viewed as strong candidates to succeed to Roh in the future presidential race.
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