KIM'S CABINET RESIGNS

The widening impact of the corruption scandals that landed former South Korean presidents Roh Tae-woo and Chun Doo-hwan in jail slammed into the 24-member presidential cabinet, which resigned en masse today. The resignations were expected after President Kim Young-sam named Lee Soo-sung prime minister on Friday and said he was going to shake up the presidential staff and the cabinet. Kim may announce a new cabinet Wednesday. In a separate action, the National Assembly approved a law that enables the government to punish the leaders of a 1979 coup. Both Roh and Chun were army generals at the time and were leaders of the coup and the bloody crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Kwangju that followed. More than 240 were killed and 1,800 injured in the most violent civil uprising in modern South Korean history. Roh is standing trial on numerous charges, including allegations that he accepted $369 million in kickbacks from business while president. Executives from 36 firms have been questioned by prosecutors, and several are likely to face arrest. If convicted, the 63-year old former president could face life in prison.