South Korean Politics and Elections

Soaring Wheat Prices, Tuition Campaign Issues

Korea Times, March 5, 2008

By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter


Major political parties have been mapping out their core campaign strategies focusing on soaring wheat prices and college tuition fees to win the working class vote in the April 9 elections.

The parties' unusual interest in specific bread-and-butter matters is an outcome of their decade-long search for tactics that will help them win the hearts and minds of low-income voters.

A Dong A Ilbo newspaper survey last year found 55.2 percent of citizens answered they were either low-income citizens (47.9 percent) or people living below the poverty line (7.3 percent).

The same poll showed 42 percent of respondents considered themselves middle-income families.

To win the majority of seats in the elections, major parties need to target the people who, they claim, are in this socio-economic class.

The governing Grand National Party (GNP) and the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) share the view that their target group of low-income families will be hit hard by rising tuition fees.

The cost of college tuition has gone up more than three times the average rate of inflation, and that for 50 universities located in and around Seoul was hiked by 7 percent this semester.

GNP Spokeswoman Na Kyung-won said party leaders asked the government to work on ways of expanding scholarships and low interest rate loans for college students from working class families.

Rep. Na said the party urged the government to produce effective, feasible ways to realize their plan in the near future.

UDP Spokesman Woo Sang-ho addressed the same concern.

Rep. Woo said: ``The UDP will form a task force team to produce policy responses to cope with the negative impact of rising tuition costs on the livelihood of working class citizens.''

He also said his party ``will also craft countermeasures against inflation.''

President Lee Myung-bak, apparently mindful of the governing GNP's efforts to secure the majority of seats in the elections, also expressed deep concern over the detrimental effects of inflation on lower-class citizens.

Lee addressed the inflation issue as a core public policy item in the first official meeting with Cheong Wa Dae staff.

``Wheat prices have risen by 22 percent on the global crops market. This is a serious problem as many people here consume flour as a core ingredient of their food,'' Lee said.

Flour is a major ingredient in ramyon, which is a widely popular food among working class people.

GNP lawmakers whose electoral districts are in rural areas joined forces to woo farmers to pave the way for their victory in the elections.

Rep. Kwon Oh-Eul told reporters that the GNP plans to help farmers who are expected to be the losers in a free trade agreement with the United States.

Kwon said his party will create an agriculture fund worth 10 trillion won to help farmers heavily in debt plus other supportive measures for those living in the countryside.

hkang@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)

Political Groups React Differently to Court Ruling on Lee’s Probe

Korea Times, January 10, 2008

The office of President Roh Moo-hyun and rival political parties said Thursday that they will respect the Constitutional Court's ruling in favor of an independent investigation into allegations of financial misconduct by President-elect Lee Myung-bak.

The Constitutional Court earlier in the day ruled that a law on the appointment of a special counsel on the Lee case conforms to the Constitution, except for one of its clauses that allows unwarranted summons of Lee and his relatives.

However, President-elect Lee and his transition team didn't respond. "Lee was briefed on the Constitutional Court's ruling, but didn't show any special response. We will not issue any official comment," Lee's spokesperson Joo Ho-yooung said.

Lee Dong-kwan, spokesperson of the transition team, also said it is not appropriate for his team to make an official comment on the issue, indirectly referring to the president-elect's decision in December to accept a special investigation into his behavior.

Some members of the transition team said on condition of anonymity that the Constitutional Court's ruling could provide an opportunity for Lee to completely dispel all suspicions surrounding him.

"A ruling outlawing the independent probe itself could rather have made us feel uncompensated. A complete elimination of all suspicions through the coming independent investigation will reinforce Lee's administrative power, while undermining the position of the UNDP and other proponents of the bill in the April general elections," said an official close to Lee.

President Roh's spokesperson Cheon Ho-seon said in his daily briefing that the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae will respect the ruling by the Constitutional Court.

"Cheong Wa Dae wants the independent investigation to proceed smoothly to help dispel public suspicion (about Lee's alleged involvement in various financial misdeeds)," said Cheon.

Lee's Grand National Party (GNP) and the pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP), which legislated the bill with minor liberal parties, both committed to accept the Constitutional Court's ruling.

"The ruling is regrettable, but we'll respect it. We hope the coming independent probe will again confirm the truth," GNP spokesperson Na Kyung-won said.

UNDP spokesman Lee Nak-yon also said his party will abide by the top court's decision despite different views over the ruling outlawing the unwarranted summons of Lee and his relatives.

The ruling followed President Roh's appointment Monday of former high-court judge Chung Ho-young as the independent counsel for the Lee case. Under the law, which was passed by the National Assembly and the Cabinet last month, Chung is to investigate allegations of financial irregularities by Lee until shortly before Lee's inauguration on Feb. 25. The special counsel is set to begin his formal activities next Monday.

Tension Mounts in Power Transition

Korea Times, January 6, 2008

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

Outgoing President Roh Moo-hyun has stepp