South Korean Politics and Elections

Role of Unification Minister Downgraded

Korea Times, March 9, 2007

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

Cheong Wa Dae Saturday launched a new presidential coordination body on foreign and security affairs, replacing the previous National Security Council (NSC), officials of the presidential office said.

The new coordination body reflects a major shift in the Lee Myung-bak government's policy priority from inter-Korean relations to international cooperation, as it is headed by the foreign minister, said experts on foreign affairs and North Korea.

``The Cabinet-level foreign affairs and security council has been launched to replace the NSC, which was recently abolished following a revision NSC management law,'' a Cheong Wa Dae official said.

Members include the minister of foreign affairs and trade, minister of unification, minister of national defense, director of the National Intelligence Service and the top presidential secretary on foreign affairs and trade, he said.

President Lee has pledged that he will try to resolve North Korea's nuclear problem in close cooperation with the international community, instead of dealing with the issue as an inter-Korean matter.

The previous liberal governments of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun had said the nuclear issue should be resolved both through direct talks between the two Koreas and six-party talks involving the United States, the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia.

But the two administrations put more priority on improving inter-Korean ties under their flagship ``sunshine'' policy toward engaging the communist northern brethren than on pressing the North to give up its nuclear weapons program in cooperation with the global community.

Such attitudes often caused policy conflicts on the North's nuclear problem between foreign affairs, security-related ministries, or with the United States.

Inter-Korean relations have warmed following summit talks in 2000 and 2007, but the deadlock due to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program has continued.

North Korea missed a Dec. 31 deadline to disable its main atomic plants and declare all its nuclear programs under the denuclearization-for-assistance pact signed on Feb. 13, 2007.

Under the deal with the five participating countries, the North is to receive one million tons of heavy fuel oil or its equivalent in aid and other concessions from the five other nations in return for disabling its key nuclear facilities and providing a list of its nuclear activities.

But the communist state failed to provide a complete list of its past and current nuclear activities, including an alleged uranium-enrichment program.

In an apparent move to fulfill his pledges, the Lee government reduced the roles of the Unification Ministry, while expanding those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, under a plan endorsed by the National Assembly last month.

The government also named moderate Kim Ha-joong, former ambassador to China, as unification minister.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Cheong Wa Dae Breaks Tradition

Korea Times, March 3, 2008

By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter

President Lee Myung-bak, who spent his first week at Cheong Wa Dae, is changing customary operations at the presidential office.

One of the noteworthy changes compared to previous administrations was seen at the first Cabinet meeting presided over by Lee, Monday.

Dropping the past procedure in which ministers reported paper-based policies in rotation, Lee proposed that Cabinet members discuss pending issues and generate reasonable policies during the meeting.

Lee will preside over the discussion-based Cabinet meeting one or two times per month and plans to entrust Prime Minister Han Seung-soo with the other meetings and a variety of bills requiring Cabinet endorsement.

``For effective discussion, the number of participants for the meeting will be 25 or less from the previous 30,'' presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. ``The Cabinet meeting will usually start at 8 a.m. every Tuesday.''

The number of participants at the first meeting was 23, including the President.

Apart from the regular meetings, President Lee proposed the Cabinet ministers discuss issues by holding ``extraordinary'' meetings without being restricted by time whenever there are important issues.

The number of presidential secretaries attending also fell from 21 to 10.

Under Lee's instruction, Cheong Wa Dae has replaced the rectangular-type conference table with an oval table. ``The oval-type table will be more suitable for informal discussion,'' spokesman Lee said.

For sufficient preparation for discussion, the spokesman said, Cheong Wa Dae plans to notify ministers of discussion topics one or two weeks ahead of the meeting.

Except for office rooms for chief of staff and senior secretaries, the rooms for ordinary secretaries were closed.

The President also instructed Cheong Wa Dae officials to use public transport when they commute, saying: ``These days when oil prices are high, public officials should act as models.''

When Lee visited a company Saturday as part of his pledge to check the conditions of small and mid-sized enterprises himself, he was waiting in line with a plate to be served lunch at the company's cafeteria.

In addition, more streets and the fountain in front of the presidential office will be open to the public.

``Cheong Wa Dae will be one of the popular tourist attractions in Seoul for residents and foreigners,'' the spokesman said.

At the first Cabinet meeting, ministers had to serve coffee or tea themselves, with creamer and hot water.

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

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 s