By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun joined the Uri Party on Thursday, ending eight-months of speculation over when he would formalize ties with the pro-government party.

Roh signed his name to the party roster when Shin Ki-nam, the Uri Party’s new chairman, submitted an application form to the president during the dinner meeting with a group of party members at Chong Wa Dae.

With Roh’s entry, the party has become the ruling party with a majority of 152 seats in the incoming National Assembly.

Roh told the party members that Chong Wa Dae will hold a high-level meeting with the party that will include the prime minister, chief presidential secretary and cabinet members.

Expectations that Roh would join the party have increased after the Uri Party scored a resounding victory in the April 15 parliamentary polls and Roh was exonerated from the impeachment motion.

``Roh said he will not engage in party affairs, including any personnel matters or any contests for party leadership,’’ presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said during a briefing on the outcome of the meeting.

Roh has said he will refer political affairs to the party so that he can focus on the state administration, including policy tasks, government reform and the eradication of social irregularities.

The president also plans to carry out a reshuffle of four to five cabinet members next week that will affect the unification, culture and health ministries.

Uri Party chairman Chung Dong-young and former floor leader Kim Geun-tae are expected to join the cabinet, with Chung heading for the position of unification minister.

Ruling camp officials said Roh is likely to name former South Kyongsang Province Gov. Kim Hyuck-kyu as prime minister, replacing Goh Kun ahead of the opening of the National Assembly.

Severe partisan strife is likely to flare up as the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has said it would use all possible means to block Kim’s nomination, citing his defection from the GNP to the Uri Party ahead of the legislative polls.

Participants in the dinner meeting included Uri Party chairman Shin Ki-nam, floor leader Chung Jung-bae, House Speaker nominee Kim Won-ki and Roh’s former chief of staff Moon Hee-sang.

They discussed pending issues like the U.S. move to shift part of its forces here to Iraq and the faltering national economy.

jayshim@koreatimes.co.kr