The presidential transition team has stressed that the Unification Ministry is not being abolished but merged with the Foreign Ministry.

The committee’s Vice Chairman Kim Hyung-o underscored Thursday that only one government office will be abolished and that is the Government Information Agency.

Kim said the other government bodies subject to reorganization will remain in place but with different names after they are merged with other ministries or agencies.

Kim said the ministries of justice, defense, labor, and environment will be the only ones to keep their names.

He reiterated that the incoming administration decided to merge the unification and foreign ministries to enhance effectiveness.

Kim’s statement comes after the Unification Ministry and the United New Democratic Party voiced strong opposition to the transition committee’s reorganization plan.

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