SOUTH KOREAN FINANCE AND ECONOMICS MINISTER HAN DUCK SOO TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION FRIDAY HARD ON THE HEELS OF THE COUNTRY)S EDUCATION MINISTER WHO HAD OFFERED TO STEP DOWN EARLIER IN THE DAY ACCORDING TO DPA. HAN TOLD REPORTERS HE FELT THE NEED TO ALLOW PRESIDENT ROH MOO HYUN A 'FREE HAND' IN CHOOSING HIS SUCCESSOR BUT DID NOT ELABORATE0 HAN FINANCE MINISTER SINCE MARCH 2005 SAID THE PRESIDENT)S OFFICE HAD A NUMBER OF DAYS AGO BEEN INFORMED OF HIS DECISION. EARLIER FRIDAY EDUCATION MINISTER KIM JIN PYO HAD TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A MASSIVE OUTBREAK OF FOOD POISONING AT LOCAL SCHOOLS EARLIER THIS MONTH. KIM APOLOGIZED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN SEOUL FOR THE JUNE 6 INCIDENT THAT AFFECTED 36 SCHOOLS AND RESULTED IN 0433 STUDENTS HAVING SYMPTOMS OF NAUSEA DIARRHOEA STOMACHACHES AND FEVER0 OF THOSE POISONED 148 ARE STILL RECEIVING HOSPITAL TREATMENT AND SIX REMAIN HOSPITALIZED. THE GOVERNMENT HAS YET TO FIND THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE POISONING AND THE FOOD SUPPLIER CF FOOD SYSTEM HAS STOPPED ITS SERVICE IN SCHOOLS. BOTH THE FINANCE AND EDUCATION MINISTERS ALSO HELD THE POSTS OF DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER.
