HAN MYUNG-SOOK CONFIRMED AS PRIME MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001295

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS
SUBJECT: HAN MYUNG-SOOK CONFIRMED AS PRIME MINISTER

REF: SEOUL 973

Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The National Assembly April 19 confirmed
Han Myung-sook as Korea's new prime minister, making her the
first woman to assume the nation's number two job. Han, a
two-time former Cabinet minister and former dissident, told
fellow lawmakers that she hoped to use her tenure to
ameliorate polarization. She advocated North-South economic
cooperation as a means to improve the lives, including human
rights, of the North Korean people. Han expressed support
for the U.S.-ROK relationship calling the United State's "our
most important ally." She also expressed support for a
U.S.-ROK FTA but called for the agreement to exempt rice. END
SUMMARY.

HAN MYUNG-SOOK WINS CONFIRMATION
--------------


2. (SBU) Han Myung-sook, a two-time former Cabinet minister
and former dissident, won the National Assembly's approval
April 19 to become prime minister by a vote of 182 in favor,
77 opposed, and 3 abstentions. The vote followed two days of
hearings. President Roh had nominated her March 24 to
replace Lee Hae-chan.


3. (C) In different circumstance, the main opposition Grand
National Party (GNP) would have mounted a ferocious attack on
Han, who has a storied history as one of Korea's leading
female dissidents in the pro-democracy movement of the 1970s
and 80s. (As reported REFTEL, Han's personal history
includes more than two years in jail for "agitating" against
the Park Chung-hee regime; her husband, fellow dissident Park
Seong-jun, spent 13 years behind bars for belonging to the
pro-Pyongyang Revolutionary Reunification Party.) However,
in the wake of sexual harassment charges against one senior
GNP lawmakers and bribery charges against two others, and
with an eye on the May 31 regional elections, the GNP appears
to have been wary of alienating voters by too aggressively
attacking Korea's first would-be woman prime minister. Thus,
the GNP limited itself to a few half-hearted ad hominem
accusations and a handful of questions aimed at Han's -- and
by extension the Roh Administration's -- stance on North
Korea-related issues, especially North-South engagement and
North Korea human rights.

HAN ON NORTH KOREA
--------------


4. (SBU) Han expressed unequivocal support for the Sunshine
and Peace and Prosperity Policies, stating that the ROK
should encourage the DPRK to open up its economy to foreign
investment and thus contribute to improving the lives of the
North Korean people. With regard to human rights, she
cautioned against allowing concern over human rights abuses
to stymie North-South reconciliation. Notable statements
follow:

- "If North Korea is counterfeiting currency, that would
constitute a violation of international law."

- "Practical help, not words, is what is needed (to address
North Korean human rights). The ROKG is extending
humanitarian aid through action, not words...It is important
to help the North Korean people defend their right to
survival. One shortcut to resolving the North Korean human
rights issue is to induce North Korea to open up through
economic exchange and cooperation."

- "We must be cautious about openly raising the North Korean
human rights issues at a time when the two Koreas are still
in confrontation, and peace and mutual trust are not yet firm
enough."

- "The ROKG will pro-actively endeavor to get our abductees
back. The issue of abductees and POWs will be discussed at
the upcoming North-South ministerial meeting."

- "Former President Kim Dae-jung's (expected June) visit to
Pyongyang will be meaningful in that it could provide an
breakthrough in the stalled Six Party Talks."

HAN ON U.S.-ROK RELATIONS, FTA
--------------


5. (SBU) Han expressed support for strong U.S.-ROK relations
and the bilateral FTA. However, she called for the FTA to
exempt rice. Notable statements follow:

- "I believe in free democracy and market economics. I
believe everything should be done in collaboration with the
United States, our most important ally."

- "An FTA with the United States is inevitable. However, in
view of sensitivities and vulnerabilities, rice should be
excluded from the U.S.-ROK FTA negotiations. As FTA
negotiations progress, I will pay greater attention to the
agricultural sector,..and will strive to set up policies for
those sectors to be affected by the FTA. However, the while
process should be viewed as part of a bigger picture and
should be approached rationally. The FTA should not lead to
the collapse of the public service system, including
electricity, gas, railroad, and medical services."

- "Although primary and secondary education must not be
included in the FTA, I think we can negotiate over college
education with certain conditions attached."

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) As Korea's first female prime minister, Han will be
cognizant of her place in history. President Roh has
expressed his hope that she will conduct the same scope of
state affairs that he had entrusted to her predecessor, Lee
Hae-chan. Han's dissident days notwithstanding, her track
record as a government official suggests that she will hew
closely to the Blue House line and exercise a steady hand at
the helm. END COMMENT.
VERSHBOW