South Korean Politics and Elections

Lee Myung-bak Opens English Web Site

Korea Times, July 24, 2007

By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

Presidential hopeful Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party (GNP) opened an English Web site Tuesday to help foreign correspondents and foreign readers who are interested in catching up with the Dec. 19 presidential election.

Launching an English site is the first of its kind among presidential contenders in Korea.

``In an era of globalization, we thought the frontrunner candidate needs an English Web site to help foreign readers,'' said a spokesperson of the former Seoul mayor.

The online site offers his campaign pledges, curriculum vitae and press release.

For more information, log on to english.mbplaza.net.

(SKPE Note: Click here for site.)

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr

GNP Hopefuls Clash Over N. Korea Policy

Korea Times, July 22, 2007

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

Four presidential aspirants of the main opposition Grand National Party clashed over North Korean policies during a television debate in Jeju Island, Saturday.

Former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye criticized the party's softened stance on the Stalinist state, while the three others _ former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak, Reps. Hong Joon-pyo and Won Hee-ryong _ attacked her conservativeness.

``I hoped it was not true that the GNP presented an engagement policy toward the North. It seemed that the party gave up the principle of reciprocity,'' Park said. ``Policies on North Korea should be premised on complete nuclear disarmament.''

The conservative GNP unveiled a new policy line July 4 to encourage inter-Korean economic cooperation, free visits to the two Koreas and nuclear disarmament of the Korean Peninsula.

Hong criticized her remarks, saying ``The nuclear issue still remains unsolved for 20 years, despite the government's peaceful efforts. We cannot untie the nuclear-related problems with her premise, even 30 years later.''

Won claimed her view on the nuclear issue does not meet the demand of the times.

The contenders also discussed labor and welfare issues, but merely ended up presenting their own campaign pledges.

Leading hopeful Lee insisted that the government's law to protect non-regular workers led to a mass dismissal like that of retail giant Eland Group.

``To solve the problem, the government should ensure companies more flexibility in employment,'' said Lee, former CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction. ``And it should also work out measures to improve a differential wage rate system between regular and non-regular workers.''

Park suggested offering incentives to firms, which gives temps regular status.

Both Won and Hong urged lawmakers to revise the law which allows companies to fire irregular workers easily.

Political watcher, however, claimed the GNP's first TV debate was good for nothing.

They said major suspicions surrounding Lee and Park did not appear during the debate.

Rumors have it that Lee bought land in Dogok-dong, in southern Seoul, with the name of his brother_in_law, and Park's camp illegally made access to a residential registration of her rival Lee.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

`Mr. Outspoken' to Join Presidential Race

Korea Times, July 22, 2007

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

Rep. Chough Soon-hyung of the Centrist United Democratic Party (CUDP) hinted at his presidential bid Sunday at the party's headquarters in Seoul.

His challenge will likely affect the Dec. 19 presidential election due to his critical stance toward President Roh Moo-hyun and the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), party sources said.

Chough, 72, will unveil his detailed campaign pledges next week, his aides said.

Party officials speculated that Chough will gain more than five percent of approval ratings once he officially opens his presidential bid because people who are against Roh and the GNP will support him.

Chough unsuccessfully ran for the general elections in 2004 after he led the impeachment of Roh but won the by-election on July 26, 2006.

Despite criticism of the impeachment, the six-term lawmaker has expressed his belief, saying, ``I will not hesitate to make a decision even though the same situation occurs.''

Chough is called ``Mr. Outspoken'' and ``Mr. Clean'' because he has been involved with few scandals unlike the GNP's leading presidential hopefuls, former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak and former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye.

As he joins the CUDP's primary race, the party is able to pick its own presidential candidate without merging with the pro-government Uri Party, party sources said.

The party has discussed ways to create a new party with the Uri Party in the run-up to the presidential race but failed to narrow the gap.

Like the embattled Uri Party, the party has yet to provide strong presidential hopefuls even though Reps. Rhee In-je and Shin Kook-hwan, and former lawmaker Choo Mi-ae of the Democratic Party, predecessor of the CUDP, announced their presidential bid.

Chough started his political career in 1981 when he was elected to the National Assembly.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

Roh Calls for Release of Korean Abductees in Afghanistan

Korea Times, July 21, 2007

President Roh Moo-hyun on Saturday called for the release of Koreans who were abducted by Taliban militants on Thursday in Afghanistan as the insurgents threathened to kill them unless Korea withdraws its troops stationed in the country.

"Under any circumstances, precious lives must not be lost,'' Roh said in a televised statement. ``The Korean government is prepared to make its utmost effort with the relevant parties in order to secure the speedy release of the Korean citizens.''

Roh said that taking innocent civilians hostage cannot be justified for any reason.

The Korean abductees, mostly medical doctors and nurses, went to Afghanistan to offer medical services, Roh stressed.

Roh also had a phone call with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, asking him to help the release of the Korean abductees in his country.

GNP Hearing Takes Heat Over Suspicions

Korea Times, July 19, 2007

By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

The hearing of the Grand National Party (GNP) Thursday was intense as the panels sought sharp and embarrassing questions over allegations surrounding presidential hopefuls Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

The unprecedented in-house scrutiny took place amid skepticism running high over the effectiveness of the internal screening.

Fifteen panels focused their questions on the contenders' property trading, tax records and their relationship with people involved in the allegations.

Some panels doggedly requested contenders give appropriate answers to their questions.

Early predictions said that the one-day scrutiny would end with wishy-washy conclusions by providing the contenders with an opportunity to defend their positions.

Skepticism came even from the internal screening body responsible for the hearing.

Ahn Kang-min, chief of the internal watchdog, told reporters that he was frustrated for several reasons.

``The in-house body has no teeth and was not empowered to have the contenders cooperate with our activities. Two contenders were not supportive and failed to fulfill their earlier commitments,'' said Ahn, a former senior prosecutor.

He said two contenders continued to conduct mutually destructive negative campaigns, which ultimately forced the prosecution to investigate the allegations.

As a consequence, the internal committee grew increasingly callous as the prosecution took hold of the investigation.

Amid pervasive skepticism, a political scientist presented a more optimistic view, saying that this kind of effort will pay off in the long run.

Prof. Hahm Sung-deuk of Korea University told The Korea Times that the internal scrutiny is a very good start for party politics. So far the country has no other system to screen candidates running for the presidency.

``Holding a hearing to screen presidential contenders will definitely help bring transparency to the political arena in the future,'' he said.

Hahm added that he shared little with critics who argue that an internal scrutiny is less likely to reach the uncomfortable truth regarding the contenders.

Those critics said panelists would be discouraged from asking questions that might put the contenders in trouble in the presidential race.

``In the U.S., the media screens candidates running for public office. As media in Korea does not play such a role, the party has to do it on its own,'' he said.

``Those who are aspiring to be a national leader will learn lessons from this event. They would figure out that a zero-tolerance policy is applied to those who run for the presidency so they are less likely to seek misdemeanors or wrongdoings even before running for public office,'' the political scientist added.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr

Liberals to Pick Standard-Bearer in Mid-October

Korea Times, July 19, 2007

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

The pro-government camp will select a presidential candidate by Oct. 14 through an open primary which allows non-party members to vote, camp officials said Thursday.

Seven hopefuls are expected to vie in the primary, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 15.

They include former Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu; former Chairman Chung Dong-young of the pro-government Uri Party; former Prime Ministers Han Myeong-sook and Lee Hae-chan; Rep. Kim Hyuk-kyu of the Uri Party; former Minister of Justice Chun Jung-bae; and former Minister of Government Administration and Home Affairs Kim Doo-kwan.

``The seven aspirants agreed to hold the open primary and a pre-primary race to cull presidential hopefuls before the open primary begins,'' said an official of the council for the promotion of the primary. ``We will decide on detailed rules on the primary after a coalition of liberal groups is created.''

The council, which consists of Uri deserters and members of civic groups, hosted several meetings for the hopefuls.

They agreed on July 4 to create a grand coalition in the run-up to the Dec. 19 presidential election. However, it seems that their way of creating a coalition is too complicated.

Co-Chairman Park Sang-cheon of the Centrist United Democratic Party (CUDP) keeps refusing to join the coalition, saying moves for the alliance are merely a jumble of some lawmakers, not a coalition.

Meanwhile, 15 Uri lawmakers, including Song Young-gil, threatened to leave the party, denouncing party leaders who waver in merging its force with the CUDP and other liberal groups.

About eight lawmakers of the CUDP also announced they will quit the party soon to create a new party with potential Uri deserters.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

Skepticism Prevails Over GNP’s Internal Scrutiny

Korea Times, July 18, 2007

By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

Presidential candidates Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye of the Grand National Party (GNP) are scheduled to attend an internal scrutiny session Thursday, the primary objective of which is to determine if they deserve to be the nation's leader.

However, skepticism toward the in-house scrutiny is running high. Critics said it would be hard for members of the screening committee to ask tricky questions, which will ultimately put the contenders in a difficult position in the presidential race.

Rep. Suh Hae-suk of the pro-government Uri Party said, ``The hearing is highly likely to end up giving political consideration in favor of the two contenders.''

Therefore, Suh said she would not hold high expectations.

The GNP responded that the public had better wait and see what happens.

``We are fully aware of the skepticism. We will strive to purge all suspicions and rumors about the party candidates through the intensive hearing,'' party spokeswoman Na Kyung-won told reporters.

Na said one of the goals of the session is to provide the contenders with an opportunity to clarify past activities.

Lee,66, and Park, 55, have prepared for the hearing with different strategies.

Park, a former GNP chairwoman, sought a proactive approach. Park's camp said they put all relevant documents about Park, such as tax records, financial reports and criminal records online at her official Web site.

Former Seoul Mayor Lee's camp said the hearing will help citizens figure out the truth but they are not going to take similar measures.

Fourteen members of the party's in-house screening committee are going to pose a large number of questions over suspicions and rumors raised about the two contenders' wealth, tax records and private lives.

The former Seoul mayor is expected to be requested to provide answers to suspicions over his past property trading, tax records and wealth accumulation.

The former party chairwoman is expected to face questions pertaining to her relationship with the late religious leader Choi Tae-min, whether she was aware of Choi's numerous corrupt dealings and if she attempted to evade taxes in the late 1990s when she worked with a non-profit scholarship foundation.

Park will be invited for the morning session which will last for three hours, and Lee will attend the afternoon session.

The committee already sent out separate questionnaires _ 150 questions for Park and 300 questions for Lee.

The two contenders have prepared answers for the questions in consultation with their camp advisors and attorneys.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr

Roh Wants to Limit Rights of Lawmakers

Korea Times, July 17, 2007

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun Tuesday called for amending the Constitution to introduce a parliamentary system of government, a runoff election in the presidential race and a change in National Assembly elections.

In an article posted on the Website of Cheong Wa Dae, Roh also called for limiting of presidential amnesties and the privilege of exemption from liability for lawmakers in speeches at the National Assembly.

The parliamentary system of government can minimize conflicts between the government and parliament and prevent a lame duck presidency, Roh said.

Roh wrote the article on the occasion of the 59th Constitution Day, which marks the last legal holiday this year.

He reiterated the need for revising election-related laws to allow the President to engage in election campaigns, defying calls from the nation's election watchdog for him to stay neutral in politics.

Roh said if a broad debate on constitutional reform takes place, whether the nation should adopt the parliamentary system is one option that can be discussed.

He then stressed the need to overhaul the parliamentary electoral system to resolve regionalism-based politics, which he said was ruining the country.

In the 2004 elections, the Grand National Party won 52. 3 percent of eligible votes in the Gyeongsang provinces but captured 60 of 66 seats available there. The Uri Party, meanwhile, won 32 percent of the votes in the Gyeongsang region, but garnered only four seats, he said.

The ruling camp has called for the election of two or more lawmakers from each district to replace the current system of electing one legislator.

``It is necessary for the president to offer his opinions in a responsible manner on controversial issues on national affairs, particularly during an election period.

``It is in the interest of the people that different political groups compete with each other in a fair manner,'' Roh said. ``If state affairs are an issue, it's natural for the president to be allowed to give his opinions about them.''

In June, the National Election Commission (NEC) twice ruled that Roh's comments in public forums on presidential hopefuls from the main opposition Grand National Party violated the Election Law, citing a provision that bans public officials from engaging in political activity that could influence elections.

However, Roh rejected the ruling and subsequently filed a petition with the Constitutional Court over the NEC rulings. The court is scheduled to announce its review of the petition before July 22.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

60 Lawmakers to Launch Party

Korea Times, July 17, 2007

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

Nearly 60 lawmakers and potential presidential candidate, Sohn Hak-kyu, are set to create a new party on Aug. 5 that will become the second largest negotiating group in the National Assembly.

They include lawmakers, who belong to an anti-Roh Moo-hyun group in the pro-government Uri Party, and legislators of the Centrist United Democratic Party (CUDP), who have urged the party to merge with other forces in the run-up to the presidential election.

Also joining the move are members of the Advanced Peace Solidarity, a supporters' group of former Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu and a civic organization. In polls, Sohn tops the list of probable pro-government candidates, garnering about 20 percent of support.

Election experts predict that the Dec. 19 presidential election will be a two-way contest between the new party and the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP).

The new force will hold a pre-primary race to cull overflowing presidential aspirants by mid-August and pick a final presidential candidate around mid-October, officials said.

However, leaders of the Uri Party and the CUDP who have confronted over merging their factions since last December will be excluded from the new party, the officials said.

Co-Chairman Park Sang-cheon of the CUDP has insisted that the Uri Party cannot be a partner for a grand coalition of liberal groups.

He criticized that some members of the party fared poorly when serving as Cabinet ministers and called for disbandment of the Uri Party.

Conflicts between the two leaderships slowed progress in the coalition, which pushed other liberal forces and self-proclaimed liberal lawmakers to build a new party.

Once the four groups create a new party, they will consider whether to accept leaders of the two parties or not, the officials said.

Lawmakers of those groups are preparing for the new party formation by soon defecting from their parties and holding an inaugural meeting this weekend.

Reps. Hong Jae-hyong and Song Young-gil of the Uri Party resigned from the position of Supreme Council member and secretary-general Monday.

About 15 Uri lawmakers who kept their distance from President Roh Moo-hyun, including Reps. Ahn Min-seok and Kim Jae-yun, will quit the party Wednesday, party sources said.

Eight legislators of the Centrist United Democratic Party also announced they will soon leave the party.

Sohn Hak-kyu is scheduled to join the new party while other presidential aspirants including former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook and former Uri Chairman Chung Dong-young are considering joining the new group, sources said.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

FTA Opponent Bids for Presidency

Korea Times, July 10, 2007

Chun Jung-bae, one of the lawmakers who oppose a free trade agreement with the United States, declared his bid for presidency.

Chun, now an independent at the National Assembly, is one of the defectors from the pro-government Uri Party, who stresses that the Roh Moo-hyun administration has pushed for humiliating negotiations with the U.S.

In a statement, he said, ``I feel a big responsibility over policy failures of the Uri Party, which was formerly supported by the low and middle income voters.''

Only a candidate who has willingness to introspect the failures of the Uri Party can beat the conservative Grand National Party, he added.

The 52-year-old candidate, who served as a justice minister between 2005 and 2006, vowed to become a president for better public livelihood.


kys@koreatimes.co.kr