South Korean Politics and Elections

386 Generation Activists in Power Profiled

DongA Ilbo, December 2, 2006

It is confirmed that 15 Cheong Wa Dae presidential aides who belong to the 386 generation and were once arrested for violating national security law and the law on gathering and demonstrations received an official recognition of their participation in democratic movements.

The recovery of honor was also made for approximately 10 former Cheong Wa Dae aides after their participation in democratic movements was recognized.

These facts were confirmed when Dong-A Ilbo analyzed the “Democratic Movement Participation Recognition Notice” obtained from the Committee for Recovering Honor and Rewarding to Those Related to Democratic Movements on December 1.

However, there are several staff members of the 386 generation who did not apply for the official recognition. Among 258 staff members in the position of an executive official or above, more than 30 are of the 386 generation and once served a prison term for their involvement in political cases. The number amounts to 70 if retirees are included.

Roh Withdraws Nomination of Constitutional Court Chief

(SKPE note: Chon Hyo-suk is listed as Jeon Hyo-sook in the SKPE archives.)

Korea Times, November 27, 2006

By Ryu Jin & Lee Jin-woo
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun Monday withdrew his nomination of Chon Hyo-suk as the country's first female chief of the Constitutional Court, as the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) rejected his proposal for a bipartisan conference.

``He received a request from Chon to withdraw her nomination as the Constitutional Court chief and decided to accept the request in the afternoon,'' presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young told reporters.

Both the ruling and the opposition parties hailed the decision as the problem has been a bone of contention along with some other issues hindering a normal operation of the National Assembly for months.

Uri Policy Conflicts Surface Again

Dong-A Ilbo, November 22, 2006

The Uri Party seems to be having an internal political conflict over policies.

On November 21, 45 Uri lawmakers urged the party leadership to make decisions on main policy issues in a general policy meeting.

Among them, Im Jong-seok, Lee Mok-hee, Park Yeong-seon, Kim Yeong-ju, Lee Kyeong-sook, and Min Byeong-du said at a press interview, “The identity of the Uri Party has been shaken by confusion over policies. We need to discuss policy through a general policy meeting since the party is torn between different opinions over policies.”

Roh loses core supporters who put him in office

The Hankyoreh, November 20, 2006

Lee Gyeong-sik - not his real name - used to be a member of the president’s online support group, "Nosamo," but he was not a student activist when he was a college student. While he did cast a vote for left-wing candidate Kim Dae-jung in the 1997 presidential election, he first took part in a political campaign in 2002. At the time, he held the expectation that "a new era would open." When President Roh Moo-hyun faced an impeachment crisis, he rushed to protest in front of City Hall to save the president from impeachment. Now, however, Lee lamented his actions, saying, "I won’t vote in the next presidential election."