S. Korea reshuffles cabinet to regain public confidence

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Friday reshuffled her cabinet to regain public confidence lost after the ferry sinking disaster.

Among a combined 17, chiefs of seven ministries were replaced, presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook told a press briefing.

Choi Kyoung-hwan, a lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party and former commerce minister, was named as the finance minister who doubles as deputy prime minister for economic affairs.

Kim Myung-soo, a former university professor, was nominated as the education minister who doubles as deputy prime minister for social affairs, a post newly set during this reshuffle.

President Park also named new ministers of public administration, labor, culture, gender equality and science.

It was the first major cabinet shake-up since Park took office in February last year as the administration has been under harsh criticism for the bungling of initial rescue operations after the deadly ferry disaster.

The ferry Sewol capsized and sank off the southwestern coast on April 16, leaving more than 300 people, mostly high school students, dead or missing.

On Thursday, Park replaced four senior secretaries for political, economic, civil and educational affairs.