South Korean Politics and Elections

Government Information Agency Dismembered

Korea Times, February 29, 2008

By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter

The Government Information Agency, which spearheaded the controversial media policies of closing government pressrooms last year, was abolished Friday in line with the government downsizing plan, in line with Lee Myung-bak's campaign pledges. The agency was launched in 1999 under the Kim Dae-jung administration.

The role and function of the agency will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The function of overseas information services will remain intact, however.

Under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, the agency was enlarged thanks to what Roh called ``advanced media policy.'' However, the agency's media policy, particularly closure of the government pressrooms, faced huge criticism from the public, the media and scholars.

Officials of the agency showed a disappointing attitude over the abolition and worry over their status. Some will have to leave the government according to reorganization law.

About 360 people worked for the agency, but the information department of the ministry has a capacity for only 100 officials, which makes officials compete vigorously to enter the ministry. In particular, 133 ``contract'' officials will have to retire unless they get assigned a duty within six months.

``As of today, the agency is abolished. About half of agency officials will be transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism,'' an agency official said on condition of anonymity. ``However, we haven't received any notification about the movement. Those who fail to move will just stand by.''

Another senior official said ``I feel like my workplace has disintegrated into thin air. Everyone is concerned about their status in the ministry.''

Meanwhile, each ministry, which closed down its own pressroom at the order of the agency, is planning to open the pressrooms again with consultation with the culture ministry.

yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr

Assembly Endorses Han as Prime Minister

Korea Times, February 29, 2008

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

The National Assembly confirmed the nomination of Prime Minister-designate Han Seung-soo during a plenary session Friday.

However, it is still unclear whether minister-designates will get Assembly approval of their nominations.
Of the 270 lawmakers attending the session, 174 voted in favor of the nomination while 94 opposed it ― one vote was undecided and one invalidated.

The confirmation vote had been delayed as the liberal United Democratic Party (UDP) claimed Han was unsuitable for the position.

Han, a U.N. special envoy on climate change, was accused of dubious wealth accumulation and criticized for his daughter's U.S. citizenship.

The Assembly was scheduled to vote on the nomination of the first prime minister under the Lee Myung-bak government on Monday but the UDP alliance with the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP) postponed the voting.

The liberal party had insisted on the cancellation of the appointment but reached a compromise after three other questionable minister nominees withdrew.

The party was also worrying that its hardline stance could backfire in the upcoming Assembly elections because it could be perceived as an attempt to hinder the new government.

Therefore, before the session began, party leaders decided to let lawmakers vote freely on the nomination, and did not set any party line.

``Despite the fact that Han has several flaws, we made the decision not to be an obstacle to the new government,'' UDP spokesman Choi Jae-sung told reporters.

Even after the withdrawal of the three the nominees, the UDP is insisting on the removal of the ``unqualified'' Health Minister-designate Kim Soung-yee. He has been a major target of criticism because of allegations he diverted public funds for his personal use while in charge of the Youth Protection Committee in 2001.

Furthermore, his daughter benefited from health insurance coverage here for several years in spite of her U.S. citizenship.

Justice Minister Nominee Kim Kyung-han was also accused of having amassed property worth $6.3 million, far beyond his means as a career civil servant.

UDP lawmakers raised suspicion over his accumulation of his fortune through real estate speculation and underpayment of inheritance taxes.

If parties fail to narrow differences over the nomination of ministers, President Lee will have to wait about 20 more days before formally completing his new Cabinet.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

Southeastern Figures Monopolize Key Posts

Korea Times, February 29, 2008

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

In Korean politics, deep regionalism has prevailed. President Lee tried to break the taboo, but Korea sees signs of rekindling the regionalism which has been latent recently, as President Lee's southeastern hometown boys monopolize key public posts, such as the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Justice Ministry, the prosecution, the police and senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. The five posts are regarded as the nerve center for running the government.

Both former Justice Minister Kim Sung-ho, a nominee for the NIS head, and Prosecutor General Lim Chae-jin were born in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province.

Justice Minister-designate Kim Kyung-han and Lee Jong-chan, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, are from Andong, North Gyeongsang Province and Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, respectively.

Eo Cheong-soo, set to lead the National Police Agency, is also a Gyeongsang native.

Once the nominees from the Gyeongsang region successfully take the chief posts, people from their hometown or alma mater will likely fill up key positions.

To divert criticism, Cheong Wa Dae appointed figures from the comparatively neglected Jeolla region and other provinces as heads of the government agencies.

However, Lee Chun-ho and Nam Ju-hong, North Chungcheong and South Jeolla natives, respectively, withdrew their candidacy for the gender equality ministry and the unification ministry over property speculation.

Cheong Wa Dae officials explained the office tried to appoint figures who share the vision of the President instead of seeking to strike a regional balance.

Presidential Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan also downplayed the dominance of the southeastern natives saying ``The prosecutor general and the head of the National Police Agency were appointed by former President Roh Moo-hyun.''

Mounting voices from political parties are still against President Lee's picks.

``I doubt that those nominees can meet basic qualifications to fulfill the major duties,'' said Spokesman Yoo Jong-pil of the United Democratic Party (UDP), calling the government agencies a ``reunion of Gyeongsang natives.''

The governing GNP also slammed the selection, questioning whether the presidential office could find better figures who do not invite criticism or stir up controversy.

Lee Myung-bak won the presidential election in December largely on the back of strong support from the southeastern provinces and Seoul in a competition with liberal Chung Dong-young from the southwestern provinces.

Regional conflict between eastern and western regions have been deeply rooted in South Korea since government-led construction projects in the 1970s enriched the southeastern Gyeongsang provinces.

As President Lee Myung-bak appointed a person from a more-developed region as justice minister Thursday, disputes over regionalism have been rekindled.

The governing Grand National Party (GNP) expressed worry that the President's disregard of regional balance in key posts may lead to low support in the upcoming Assembly elections.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr

Jeolla Areas Crowded with Liberal Party Ticket Seekers

Korea Times, February 25, 2008

By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

A total of 486 people applied to run in the upcoming National Assembly elections on the ticket of the United Democratic Party (UDP) but only the Jeolla region, its stronghold, was crowded with hopefuls, the party announced Monday.

The application rate stood at 2 to 1, lower than the 4.82 to 1 rate that the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) saw earlier this month.

The conservative GNP, which is expected to sweep most of the 243 districts nationwide based on its large popularity, has 1,173 people registered.

Of 486 people registered with the liberal UDP, 212 applied to run in 31 districts in the Jeolla provinces.

Gwangju saw the highest application rate of 8.29 to 1 as 58 people applied to run in seven districts.

In particular, Gwangju's Buk-gu was recorded as the most crowded district because 12 including UDP lawmaker Kang Gi-jung and former Defense Minister Kim Dong-shin applied.

North Jeolla and South Jeolla provinces came next with 6.82 to 1 and 5.31 to 1, respectively.

On the other hand, the Gyeongsang areas and several provinces, where most political experts forecast GNP's sweep of the vote saw little crowding.

No one applied to compete in 72 districts in th