South Korean Politics and Elections

Can SKPE come back?

Talk about bad timing; I was hit will extra loads of work just as the presidential campaign was getting heated up.  Three months later, I find myself hopelessly behind in posting. 

To try to make up for lost ground, I will try to get 20-30 posts in per week for the next five or six weeks.  I will reach back as far as the archives go at my regular sources (Korea Times, Chosun, Joongang, Dong-A, Hankyoreh) although I think only the Times will get me back to November.  I will supliment that will somethings I can get from Google searches.  Hopefully, that will fill in most of the gaps.

One good thing about reaching so far back is that I have the advantage of hindsight when picking which articles I think are important.

If all works well, I will have this blog back in good shape by the middle of March.

(Update:  I will have to go all the way back to page 55 on the KT list to get to October 29.  I will have to do closer to 40 posts per week to catch up by the ides of March.)

Two Lawmakers Quit Liberal Party

Korea Times, January 31, 2008

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

Rep. Yoo Jay-kun Thursday joined the Liberty Forward Party (LFP), led by conservative politician Lee Hoi-chang, after bolting from the pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP) a day earlier.

Another lawmaker, Park Sang-don, also left the UNDP and joined the conservative party the same day. As a result, the UNDP's National Assembly number of seats has decreased to 135 in the 299-member legislature, while that of the LFP, which merged with the People First Party early last month, increased to seven.

A former lawyer, Yoo became famous hosting a TV debate show. He was elected to the Assembly for the third consecutive time.

He currently serves as a member of the executive committee at the Inter-Parliamentary Union after having worked as chief of staff for former President Kim Dae-jung in 1997.

He explained that he deserted the UNDP due to disappointment with the party failing to rally against controversial issues like FTAs with the United States.

As a result, the minority party merged with the People First Party early this month and gained a total of seven Assembly seats, which is one more seat than the Democratic Party.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

Chung Mong-joon lays groundwork for ambitious political future

Newest GNP member plans to launch a policy research center for foreign affairs and unification next month

Hankyoreh, January 30, 2008

The Grand National Party has chosen Chung Mong-joon, who joined the party just before the December 19 election, as the newest elected member of its Supreme Council in a meeting held yesterday. Prior to his election to the top post, Chung met with President-elect Lee Myung-bak to give a briefing on his recent trip to the United States as a specially-appointed envoy. Unlike meetings held with the five other envoys appointed by the president-elect, including former party Chairwoman Park Geun-hye and present party Vice Chairman Lee Sang-deuk, Chung and the president-elect reportedly held a closed-door meeting, causing some to speculate that the two might have discussed Chung’s future role within the party.

Many political analysts say that the meeting Chung had with U.S. President George Bush during his trip and his election to the Supreme Council are a good start on his journey to becoming a potential candidate for leading the conservative party. Against this backdrop, Chung is to launch a policy research center dealing with diplomacy, unification, and national security next month, for which he will serve as the honorary director. That move has led many observers to speculate that he may be preparing for an ambitious political future.

“The party is in the process of finalizing its plans for the April parliamentary elections. Whatever needs to be done, I will do my best,” Chung told reporters before his election to the Supreme Council. When asked whether he will make a bid for the party chairmanship in July, when the GNP’s general convention is scheduled to take place, Chung declined to comment on the possibility, saying, “It wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about that at this point, since I have just joined the party.” Some say that he may want to campaign nationwide for party colleagues running for the parliamentary elections in April.

Former GNP Chairwoman Park and Lee Jae-oh, a former Supreme Council member, are watching Chung closely, as they may face a future battle for the party’s top position. Lee, who withdrew his bid for Supreme Council membership at last minute, congratulated Chung on his election to the post but declined to answer questions about his own future plans. A close aide to Park said, cautiously, “We need to wait and see whether Chung can secure enough of a foothold within the party to compete with Park during the next five years.” President-elect Lee Myung-bak, who was elected in December and will be inaugurated on February 25, will serve a single, five-year term as president of South Korea, which is the maximum term permitted by law.

Some experts see Chung’s joining the GNP as a move to build the necessary political ground for a presidential bid, following two failed attempts at election in 1992 and 2002. Under these circumstances, Chung could clash head-on with Lee in his attempts to take over the party leadership in July, the experts noted.

GNP lawmaker Park Hee-tae, who helped Chung gain party membership, said, “In order to emerge as a candidate for the presidency in five years, it is necessary to break ground within the party. The ‘screening’ process has now begun - to determine (whether Chung is) a politician that people can trust.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Labor Party Seeks to Shed N. Korea-Friendly Image

Korea Times, January 30, 2008

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

The Democratic Labor Party (DLP) is seeking ways to shed its North Korea-friendly image.

At its national convention, slated for Feb. 3, party members will discuss measures to strip people engaged in pro-Pyongyang activities of their party membership and urge North Korea not to intervene in internal affairs.

However, members of the Ilsimhoe, known as a pro-Pyongyang group within the party and who may be deprived of party membership, criticized the proposals.

In the espionage scandal in 2005, group members, who allegedly leaked information on the labor party to North Korea, were arrested on charges of violating the National Security Law.

As party leadership confirmed its firm will to overhaul the existing image, the internal feud will likely get deeper.

``The proposed measures aim at reforming the party. Feb. 3 should be the day that we can be reborn as a stronger progressive party,'' said Rep. Sim Sang-jeong, acting chairwoman of the party.

The minor opposition party has suffered from internal feuding after its candidate Kwon Young-ghil was defeated in the Dec. 19 presidential election with three percent of the vote, lower than what he gained on his second run four years ago.

Even though party leaders resigned en masse, party members still blame each other, divided as two factions.

The smaller faction, which is more concentrated on labor issues, criticized the larger faction, called the independence group, for its biased political leaning, cornering the party into crisis.

The mainstream group, which takes a more critical stance toward the United States and is favorable toward North Korea, on the other hand, slammed the opponents, saying its groundless claim is disrupting the party.

Its members are also considering voting against the reform measures, while fewer group members threaten to leave the party to launch a new party opposing the reform measures.

Rep. Roh Hoe-chan, meanwhile, told reporters that he may leave the party if it fails to adopt the measures.

Party leader Sim denounced both sides, saying they are hindering the internal efforts to revamp the party.

The DLP currently holds nine seats in the 299-member unicameral legislature.

The left-leaning party, which gained 13.3 percent of support in 2004, now receives single digit support in opinion surveys.

ksy@koreatimes.co.k

GNP Feud Escalates Over Nomination of Candidates

Korea Times, January 30, 2008

By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter

A feud has erupted again in the Grand National Party (GNP) between two groups led by President-elect Lee Myung-bak and former party Chairwoman Park Geun-hye, over candidate nominations for the upcoming general elections.

The discord is culminating as Rep. Kim Moo-sung, one of Park's closest confidants, hinted at leaving the GNP to express his discontent over the process.

According to party rules, those found guilty of corruption are banned from being nominated. If the rule is strictly applied, Kim will be disqualified.

Lee's aides Rep. Park Sung-vum and Kim Hyun-chul, the son of former President Kim Young-sam, will also fail to be nominated for the same reason.

Though the ban should include people from the two factions, the disqualification of Kim Moo-sung would deal a blow to Park because he is the right-hand man of the former chairwoman.

Followers of Park collectively expressed concerns that Lee's supporters are seeking to apply the rule for screening candidates for the April 9 elections strictly. Kang Jae-sup, chairman of the GNP, didn't attend the party's Supreme Council meeting in protest against the rule.

Kim said that the pro-Lee politicians were conducting retaliatory politics against him by pushing the strict nomination rule. ``Because the party deserts me, I have no choice but to leave the party,'' he said.

Park also joined the battle by saying that the nomination rules are ambiguous and they should be fair for everyone.

Rep. Kim Hak-won said, ``Previously, those who were fined were able to run for the election. It would violate the right to run and equality, guaranteed by the constitution, if the party disqualifies eligible candidates.''

However, GNP secretary-general Lee Bang-ho, a pro-Lee lawmaker, said the party will select the nominees based on party rules. ``We can't ignore the party rule,'' he added, confirming his intention to exclude Kim from the nomination.

Lee's supporters said the nomination was not a matter of negotiation but a matter of rules and there could be no compromise.

Meanwhile, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Lee Sang-deuk, President-elect Lee's older brother, offered to mediate in the conflict.

``I respect the party rules but we need to minimize the negative effects coming from the nomination process,'' he said.

The Lee-Park conflict began during the party primaries for the presidential election last year. After Lee won the primaries and the election, the two sides have often been at odds.

yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr

Lee Myung-bak’s cancellation of meeting with labor organization causes uproar

Labor groups face growing anxiety over president-elect’s potential disregard for labor community

Hankyoreh, January 29, 2008

President-elect Lee Myung-bak has unilaterally scrapped a plan to meet with representatives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation’s two major umbrella labor organizations. The president-elect’s spokesman says the reason for the cancellation is tied to a disagreement between the president-elect’s transition team and the KCTU about a police investigation of the KCTU leader, saying that it is a matter of “law and order.” The move is seen by many as being typical of Lee’s desire to conduct labor-politics relations based on power, rather than gathering opinions from the labor community or trying to form peaceful labor-management relations. Meanwhile, labor groups and civic organizations are facing growing anxiety over possible conflicts and distrust between the labor community and the incoming administration.

On January 28, Joo Ho-young, Lee’s spokesman, said, “A planned meting with the KCTU was postponed indefinitely because of a disagreement about a police investigation of the KCTU leader.” Ahead of the meeting, Lee’s transition team had requested that Lee Seok-haeng, the leader of the KCTU, be called in for questioning by police about demonstrations that took place last year in protest against free trade negotiations with the United States. “More consultations with the KCTU are needed so that law and order can be maintained in labor-management relations,” Joo added.

A transition team official said, “If Lee, the KCTU leader, agrees to be questioned by the police, the meeting will be arranged again.”

The meeting was scheduled to take place on January 29 at the KCTU’s main office. At the meeting, the KCTU was planning to raise a number of issues, including discrimination against non-regular workers, social polarization and opposition to the incoming administration’s plans to privatize public companies.

In a hastily arranged press conference on January 28, the KCTU leader strongly criticized the president-elect for having canceled the meeting, saying, “The meeting was scrapped after discussions about protocol were completed. This indicates that the incoming administration is aiming to return to the authoritarian rule of the past in which workers’ rights were disregarded. It is unfortunate that the KCTU isn’t treated with as much importance as the alumni association of Korea University,” the leader said. The President-elect is a graduate of Korea University and has frequently participated in alumni association meetings. “We will take hostile countermeasures against this attempt to dismiss the KCTU,” the KCTU leader said.

According to a document outlining the planned meeting between the president-elect and the KCTU, written by the transition team and disclosed by the labor organization, discussion on a set of procedures for how the meeting was to be conducted was deadlocked on January 25, when the transition team demanded that the KCTU leader respond to a police summons.

Woo Moon-sook, a spokesperson for KCTU, said, “Simply summoning the KCTU leader to the police station for questioning is just an excuse, when the president-elect himself has not responded to a summons by special prosecutors. It’s an unacceptable attitude,” Woo said. The president-elect has been under investigation by specially-appointed independent counsel over allegations that he was involved in stock price manipulation in collaboration with his former business partner, as well as a number of other charges.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, a more conservative umbrella labor organization, expressed concern over the cancellation, calling it “unfortunate.” A statement released by the FKTU said: “Given the new administration’s initiatives to revitalize the economy, it is inappropriate for the incoming administration to refuse to hold discussions with the labor community.”

Park Won-seok, an official from the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, an advocacy group, said, “While President-elect Lee has criticized the peer-to-peer politics of the participatory government (of President Roh Moo-hyun), this cancellation clarifies his will to run the nation solely for the benefit of his supporters.”

In a statement, the Korea Progressive Alliance said: “This is an unfair act because (President-elect Lee) has raised questions about the activities of the KCTU leader, who supported irregular workers at E-Land, while pledging to keep in touch with chaebol owners who have committed crimes.” The E-land dispute occurred last summer before a new labor law was to take effect. The impending implementation of the law, which the government said had been designed to protect temporary workers and provide them with permanent employment after a period of two years, spurred companies to instead lay off thousands of workers in advance of the implementation of the new law on July 1. KCTU was involved in supporting the striking workers, most whom were employed as cashiers.

Kim Dong-won, a professor of business at Korea University, said, “The cancellation may represent the president-elect’s desire to press or dismiss the hard-line KCTU, while embracing the (more moderate) FKTU, which has formed a policy alliance with the transition team. If he sticks with this attitude, harsh confrontations with the labor community will be inevitable.”

Lee Ji-ahn, a deputy spokesperson for the Democratic Labor Party, said, “There are no laborers in the President-elect’s ‘business-friendly’ policies. The administrator of national policy is inciting a labor-management dispute, rather than resolving it.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Han Built Career for Resource Diplomacy

Korea Times, January 28, 2008

By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter

Prime Minister-nominee Han Seung-soo, 72, has had a far-reaching career in government, having served as minister or prime minister in four administrations.

Han entered government for the first time as commerce minister while he was an economics professor at Seoul National University under the Roh Tae-woo administration.

He then served as presidential chief of staff and vice prime minister in charge of the nation's economy under the Kim Young-sam administration.

Under the Kim Dae-jung government, he became president of the U.N. General Assembly in 2001 and built up an international network. However, his presidency was controversial because of his experience in the authoritarian Chun Doo-hwan administration.

One of his achievements was his diplomatic success as commerce minister in 1989 when Korean avoided a U.S. retaliatory trade measure dubbed ``Super 301.''

He also learned politics as three-term lawmaker. Since being elected a lawmaker of the 13th National Assembly in 1988, he has secured his seat in the 15th and 16th Assemblies.

In addition, Park Geun-hye, the former chairwoman of the main opposition Grand National Party, is a relative of Han.

Before entering the political arena, he served as financial adviser to Venezuela and Jordan and economic adviser to the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Han's international experience is the main reason Lee picked him as his first premier to conduct what he calls ``resource diplomacy.''

Lee, a former business executive, often said that he wanted a prime minister with an international background to use energy diplomacy to find resources around the world.

Han also said Monday, ``Resources are indispensable for our economy. For example, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao traveled all around the world practicing resource diplomacy.''

Han pledged to actively solve the dearth of natural resources in Korea.

A native of Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Han has a huge network of contacts there. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was chief secretary of Han when he was president of the U.N. General Assembly. Currently, Han serves as a special envoy on climate change for Ban.

He has also served as ambassador to the United States, foreign minister, and chairman of the nation's committee to bid for the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

He is married with a son and a daughter.

yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr

Government Downsizing Plan Hits Snag

Roh Says He Will Not Sign The Bill Into Law During His Presidency to Feb. 25

Korea Times, January 28, 2008

By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun urged President-elect Lee Myung-bak to sign his government reorganization bill himself after his inauguration on Feb. 25.

Roh Monday told reporters at Cheong Wa Dae that he was unwilling to sign into law the bill initiated by President-elect Lee's transition team.

Stressing that the plan runs counter to the philosophy of the incumbent administration, Roh said, ``I suggest the next President sign the government reorganization bill by himself. I'm not going to sign the bill.''

He did not rule out the possibility that the incumbent Cabinet may endorse the bill if the National Assembly passes a ``revised'' version.

There are three scenarios for the incoming administration to reorganize the government, following Roh's comments.

Firstly, the National Assembly may pass the bill but Roh will delay signing it into law. In such a case, Lee will endorse the bill after his inauguration and the appointment of Cabinet members.

Secondly, President Roh may veto the bill and the Lee administration will be launched without Cabinet members until the general elections on April 9. In June, the new National Assembly will review the bill again. This entails a government vacuum of more than four months ― something unprecedented in the country's history.

Thirdly, the Assembly will be unable to pass the reorganization bill. In such a case, Lee will name only key ministers or run the government with vice ministers before downsizing the administration after the general elections.

Under any of these circumstances, the incoming administration could be handicapped.

President-elect Lee didn't comment on Roh's remarks, Lee's spokesman Joo Ho-young said.

But the Presidential Transition Committee and the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) criticized Roh for not cooperating with the next President.

``We don't understand why President Roh is desperately obstructing the efforts for a fresh start by a new government. It may stem from his arrogance and self-righteousness,'' transition team spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said.

Asked why the he indicated the possibility of vetoing the bill even before the National Assembly hands over the bill to the Cabinet, Roh said, ``I believe my negative views about the bill will influence the Assembly in reviewing the plan.''

Roh said he wanted the Assembly to produce a ``rational'' bill through a consensus, instead of passing it in its current form.

``If the current bill is endorsed, Korea will face hurdles in the development of science and technology, and balanced regional development will be totally blocked,'' he said.

The transition team has said it will close down five of 18 ministries and two of four ministry-level agencies, cutting 7,000 civil servant jobs through attrition as part of its creation of a ``small, efficient and pragmatic administration.'' Roh said he has not pursued a ``big'' government as is alleged by the committee.

kys@koreatimes.co.kr

Han Nominated Prime Minister

Korea Times, Janyuary 28, 2008

President-elect Lee Myung-bak announced Monday that he has nominated former foreign minister Han Seung-soo to be his first prime minister.

The 72-year-old Han, now serving as a special envoy on climate change for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is known for his wide-ranging diplomatic and political career, which includes stints as finance minister, commerce minister, ambassador to the U.S. and presidential chief of staff. The former three-term lawmaker was also elected president of the U.N. General Assembly in 2001.

"I asked Han to be my first prime minister in consideration of his global mindset and abundant experiences at home and abroad," Lee said in a news conference, standing beside Han.

"Taking advantage of his international experiences and human networks, Han will be able to help revitalize our economy and successfully carry out national tasks in trade and resource diplomacy. He is also the right person to promote national harmony and cooperation between the administration and the National Assembly," Lee said, naming a number of public posts held by Han.

Prime Minister-designate Han, who earned the title of "international gentleman" after serving long in high-profile diplomatic and government posts, said that he will devote his efforts to the welfare of the nation, as well as to Lee's commitment to resource diplomacy.

"Resources are indispensable to our economy. For instance, Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao have traveled across the world for resource diplomacy. I'm ready to criss-cross the globe to engage in resource diplomacy. I'll also strive to publicize our nation's human resources abroad," said Han. "We can overcome the looming global economic crisis through further deregulation and stimulation of private investment."

Lee, who will be sworn in on Feb. 25, has unveiled a plan to downsize the organizations and personnel of the prime minister's office, saying his prime minister will be primarily responsible for resource diplomacy.

Han must undergo a parliamentary confirmation hearing before taking office as new prime minister.

According to sources at Lee's transition team, the president-elect on Tuesday will announce the appointment of Yu Woo-ik, a geography professor of Seoul National University, as his presidential chief of staff. Yu is known to be one of Lee's most trusted policy advisers.

Meanwhile, rival parties showed mixed reactions to Han's nomination.

Lee's Grand National Party (GNP) called Han the "most qualified" figure for the post of prime minister, whereas the United New Democratic Party (UNDP) and other liberal parties vowed to take issue with Han's history of working for Chun Doo-hwan's military government.

"Han will be the best man to perform Lee's key national and diplomatic tasks. His relationship with Chun's military government dates back 28 years and his capabilities have already been verified," said GNP spokeswoman Na Kyung-won. "Moreover, his physical age is no matter, as he has actively engaged in various social activities."

But UNDP spokesman Woo Sang-ho said his party was disappointed to see Lee nominate a "past-oriented" figure, like Han, as his first prime minister.

"Han's varied experience is impressive. But he is lacking in vision for a new age. Lee disappointed the nation," said Woo.

(Yonhap)

Roh Apologizes for Massacres of `Leftists' in 1950

Korea Times, January 24, 2008

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun Thursday apologized for the massacres of hundreds of ``leftists'' in Ulsan during the 1950-53 Korean War.

``I deeply apologize on behalf of the country for the misconduct of the government in the past. I also express my consolation to the victims and families,'' he said in a video message at a memorial ceremony in Ulsan.

Fearing that the leftists might follow the North Korean regime, former President Syng-man Rhee ordered the first massacre ever to happen during the Korean War.

More than 870 members of the National Rehabilitation and Guidance League were killed in 1950 over a period of 21 days. Of them, the Presidential Truth and Reconciliation Commission have identified 407.

According to the commission, the Ulsan district police and military murdered them in nearby streams and hills. The victims included women and even teenagers.

The President said the incident was one of the biggest tragedies in Korean history and that families of the victims have spent all their lives in agony and sorrow.

After watching the President's message, family members also expressed their feelings and gratitude.

``It took 58 years for an apology. We accept President Roh's apology and hope that adequate measures for the victims will be worked out soon,'' a family member of a victim said.

Concerning the misconduct of previous governments, Roh said that it was important to clarify injustices that have not yet been taken care of and that proper follow-up measures to help the families were a must.

This is the first time for a President to apologize in public for previous governments' wrongdoings.

The National Rehabilitation and Guidance League was an organization made by the Rhee government in 1949 aimed at rooting out the leftist movement. There were branch organizations across the nation, Ulsan being one of them.

The members, who were branded as leftists, were mostly forced to join. But in some areas, civilians also became members to make up the numbers without knowing its true purpose, according to historical records.

The commission has urged the government to make an official apology to the victims' families and recover the victims' honor.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr