SOHN HAK-KYU, THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF KOREA?

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002190

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KS
SUBJECT: SOHN HAK-KYU, THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF KOREA?
OUTGOING GYEONGGI PROVINCE GOVERNOR MAKES HIS CASE

REF: SEOUL 1920

Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) Sohn Hak-kyu (GNP),outgoing Gyeonggi Province
Governor and presidential hopeful, outlined his
qualifications and vision for leading the ROK to the
Ambassador June 29. Sohn currently trails other presidential
hopefuls in the polls, but hopes to bolster his standing as
the "progressive" conservative with a 100-day tour of Korea
he will kick off on July 1. Sohn underscored that he
understood the need for close U.S.-ROK relations, had a track
record for increasing jobs, and comprehended globalization.
Further, because of his dealings with North Korea through
projects such as the North Korean Farm Village Modernization
Project, he was best suited to manage one of the ROK's most
sensitive relationships. END SUMMARY.

SOHN: THE "REFORM" CONSERVATIVE
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2. (SBU) Gyeonggi Province Governor Sohn Hak-kyu (GNP)
explained to the Ambassador during a June 29 lunch that he
would begin a 100-day tour of Korea July 1, immediately after
his tenure as governor, to "see what people want." During
the tour, he planned to win over the middle-aged, young, and
undecided voters who would determine the outcome of the 2007
presidential election. To become a truly advanced nation,
the ROK needed to reform and maintain the values of
conservatism. Toward that end, he said, reform-minded
members of the Grand National Party (GNP) planned to put
forward their own "surprise" candidate for the GNP
chairmanship at the July 11 leadership convention. (NOTE:
Younger, reform-minded members were responsible for putting
former Rep. Oh Se-hoon into the Seoul mayoral race, usurping
the party's bid against far more seasoned GNP politicians,
and thus demonstrating their influence. On June 30, they
nominated Kwon Young-se to run in the chairman's race. END
NOTE.)


3. (SBU) While Sohn would not comment on the other
presidential hopefuls, such as former Chairwoman Park
Geun-hye and outgoing Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak, he implied
he was the best candidate because of his proven leadership
governing the most populous and most "important" province in
Korea; his long and close ties with the U.S.; and his clear
vision for the ROK. Irrespective of gender, the next
President needed to be a moral, capable individual with a
vision -- someone who understood the world and global trends
and could strengthen the ROK's competitiveness through
technology and knowledge industries, Sohn said. He had an
excellent track record of attracting businesses -- both
foreign and domestic -- and creating jobs, thus demonstrating
his ability to move Korea forward. (NOTE: As governor, Sohn
has been credited with attracting foreign investment worth
$13.6 billion from 88 different firms to Gyeonggi and
creating some 560,000 jobs. In April 2006, LG Philips
launched operation of the world's largest flat panel plant in
Paju. The new plant is expected to create over 90,000 jobs.
END NOTE.)

U.S.-ROK RELATIONS
--------------


4. (C) Sohn acknowledged that U.S.-ROK relations could and
should be better. He blamed President Roh for the poor state
of bilateral relations, accenting that it was a shame
Presidents Bush and Roh had not spoken in many months. He
warmly remembered his work on the Pyeongtaek USFK base
expansion and his role in aiding the reconciliation between
the ROK and USFK after the 2002 accident involving two school
girls. He hoped Korea would get accepted into the Visa
Waiver Program (VWP) soon and explained that the visa problem
affected people's daily lives and outlook toward the U.S. On
the FTA, the Governor added that he hoped the U.S. could be
more empathetic toward farmers' and movie industry workers'
points of view but noted he was confident a KORUS FTA would
be ratified by the National Assembly.

ENGAGING WITH THE DPRK

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5. (C) Sohn said he had a vision to change North Korea, one
village at a time. In the "North Korean Farm Village
Modernization Project," which he helped to institute in 2005
in Dang Kok Ri south of Pyongyang, South Korean experts have
been teaching new farming methods and sharing agricultural
techniques with Dang Kok Ri farmers, providing aide to
village schools and clinics, and supporting other basic
infrastructure needs to improve rice production and raise the
standard of living. The project was akin to the "New Village
Movement," which contributed to the modernization of South
Korea during the 1970s. Dang Kok Ri, Sohn said, has been so
productive (doubling output) that the DPRK asked Gyeonggi
Province to expand the venture ten-fold.


6. (C) Sohn also hoped to show South Koreans that economic
engagement with the DPRK, without a political motive, was
also financially beneficial to the ROK. He wanted to take
advantage of the Kaesong Industrial Complex project by
converting areas in Paju and Gimpo in Gyeonggi Province into
free economic zones to increase trade.


7. (C) Sohn characterized his dealings with North Korea as
very different from other South Koreans. He believed in
economic engagement, but he would not let his vision get
eclipsed by DPRK propaganda. For example, last fall he did
not attend the harvest festival at Dang Kok Ri village
because the DPRK insisted he attend the propagandistic
"Arirang" festival. On his last visit in June, he succeeded
in getting references to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il excised
from a student performance. The road to opening North Korea
is through increased "inevitable" economic links, Sohn
stated, but this should not be linked to political propaganda.

COMMENT
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8. (C) Although Sohn has consistently trailed in polls
behind GNP rivals Park and Lee, he is considered a serious
contender because younger, reform-minded GNP members support
him. Further, critics speculate a candidate as conservative
as Lee or Park may not be able to win the presidency. Such
sentiments will help Sohn as he has positioned himself as a
progressive but balanced and pragmatic politician. If recent
polls are indicative of a trend, voters seem to be showing a
strong preference for leaders who can address economic
concerns and other issues in a pragmatic way. This was most
evident in the May 31 regional elections, which dealt a
severe blow to President Roh and the ruling Uri Party -- both
seen as too ideological and removed from the day-to-day
concerns of South Koreans. If Sohn's 100-day tour is a big
hit, he could very well become a serious challenger to Lee
Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye for the GNP nomination. END
COMMENT.

BIO INFORMATION ON SOHN HAK-KYU
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9. (SBU) Born in 1947 in Gyeonggi Province, Sohn was elected
governor in 2002. Prior to that, he was a member of the
14th, 15th, and 16th National Assemblies (1993-2002).


10. (SBU) Sohn was involved in the pro-democracy movement of
the 1970s and 80s, taking leadership roles in politically
active Christian organizations such as the Korea Special
Missionary Committee for the Metropolitan Area (manager,
1973-77),the Korea National Council of Churches (manager,
1977-80; member of the Unification Committee, 1991),and the
Institute for the Study of Korean Christian Social Issues
(director, 1986-87). After earning his Ph.D. from Oxford
University, Sohn taught international relations at various
universities in the ROK, including Inha University (1989-90)
and Sogang University (1990-93). In 1993, he won a seat in
the National Assembly on the ticket of President Kim
Young-sam's Democratic Liberal Party (DLP),forerunner of
today's Grand National Party (GNP). He held a series of
high-profile positions in the party, including chairman of
the International Organizations Committee (1995),spokesman
(1995),and chairman of the Policy Coordination Committee
(1996). During his second term in the National Assembly, he
was named Minister of Health and Welfare (1996-97). In 1998,
he resigned from the Assembly to run for governor of Gyeonggi

Province; he was defeated then, but won in 2002.


11. (SBU) Sohn, who studied in the UK (1980-86) and was a
visiting professor at George Washington University
(1999-2000),speaks fluent English and has actively sought
contact with successive U.S. Ambassadors. Sohn is married
with two daughters. He enjoys golf.
VERSHBOW