Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL2605
2006-08-02 07:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
BIPARTISAN FRUSTRATION WITH PRESIDENT ROH MOUNTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #2605/01 2140710 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 020710Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9455 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1034 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1112 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002605
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV KS
SUBJECT: BIPARTISAN FRUSTRATION WITH PRESIDENT ROH MOUNTS
REF: SEOUL 2576
Classified By: CDA Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002605
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV KS
SUBJECT: BIPARTISAN FRUSTRATION WITH PRESIDENT ROH MOUNTS
REF: SEOUL 2576
Classified By: CDA Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: In a round of calls on reform minded Uri and
GNP National Assembly members, poloff met with Foreign
Affairs Committee members Choi Jae-chun, Lee Mi-kyoung, and
GNP member Park Jin on August 1. While they expressed some
expected differences of views on ROK's North Korea policy,
their frustration with the Blue House and Roh's support of
Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok and DPM Kim Byoung-joon,
who unwillingly announced his resignation on August 2, was
pretty much the same. Given this lack of support in the
National Assembly, the Roh Administration can look forward to
a very difficult - if not impossible - legislative session.
In terms of domestic politics Roh is already a lame duck.
END SUMMARY.
2. (C) GNP Lawmaker and Foreign Affairs and Unification
committee member Park Jin told poloff that tolerance for the
Blue House had worn out and the focus now was on leading the
government to a better, GNP led future. He said the GNP
would chart a better DPRK policy based on reciprocity and
that the ROK should not resume aid to the North despite the
damage from recent heavy rains. However, several other GNP
officials said that aid should restart if the South Korean
people support a move, reflecting ongoing debate about
humanitarian issues in North Korea.
3. (C) Uri Party member Choi Jae-cheon, who harshly
reprimanded Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok for his "U.S.
failed the most" comments in the July 25 Assembly hearings,
said his Party was frustrated with the Blue House, but that
there was no leader who could influence President Roh to step
back from his incendiary policy and personnel decisions. He
explained the stubbornness Roh continues to display makes it
impossible for voices of reason from within the party to be
heard. He noted that the President still wields too much
power and that there should be systematic hearings and
background checks of future ministerial appointments. Choi
said the upcoming Foreign and Defense posts were likely to be
filled with qualified candidates since there were no possible
candidates among Roh's cohorts.
4. (C) Choi expressed certainty that the Uri Party would
split at the start of 2007 and form a new party with former
PM Goh Kun and the Democratic Party (DP). While many have
insinuated this could happen over the past weeks, Choi's
assertion was the first poloff has heard from an Uri Assembly
member. Choi said Chong Dong-yong and Kim Geun-tae's
officials were already out in the countryside trying to drum
up grass roots support for a new, progressive party. He also
added that in informal straw polls conducted by these
officials, support for Roh amongst even his hardest core of
supporters had evaporated. He said that informal polls show
only 20 percent of the informal group of Roh supporters was
still standing by the President.
5. (C) Uri Party member Lee Mi-kyoung told poloff that she
had, "stopped trying to understand the Blue House," and had
stopped hoping the Blue House would act reasonably. She
agreed that PM Han Myoung-suk was a voice of reason and hoped
she would be able to successfully diffuse the DPM Kim
situation. She noted that while Han's stock was rising, she
owed too much to the Blue House to make a strong stand
against the President regarding DPM Kim or other issues.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The frankness with which Uri Party members expressed
their disappointment with Roh was a change from the past.
While obvious policy differences exist between the GNP and
Uri parties on key issues such as North Korea and private
school reform, when it comes to the Blue House and the
cabinet, the parties are now quite close to each other. As
the National Assembly convenes for a new session in about a
month, the Roh Administration should expect difficult
deliberation on virtually all of its legislative agenda.
With the forced resignation of DPM Kim, future cabinet
choices will be contentious. In terms of domestic politics,
President Roh is a lame duck seventeen months before the end
of his term. END COMMENT
YUN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2016
TAGS: PGOV KS
SUBJECT: BIPARTISAN FRUSTRATION WITH PRESIDENT ROH MOUNTS
REF: SEOUL 2576
Classified By: CDA Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: In a round of calls on reform minded Uri and
GNP National Assembly members, poloff met with Foreign
Affairs Committee members Choi Jae-chun, Lee Mi-kyoung, and
GNP member Park Jin on August 1. While they expressed some
expected differences of views on ROK's North Korea policy,
their frustration with the Blue House and Roh's support of
Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok and DPM Kim Byoung-joon,
who unwillingly announced his resignation on August 2, was
pretty much the same. Given this lack of support in the
National Assembly, the Roh Administration can look forward to
a very difficult - if not impossible - legislative session.
In terms of domestic politics Roh is already a lame duck.
END SUMMARY.
2. (C) GNP Lawmaker and Foreign Affairs and Unification
committee member Park Jin told poloff that tolerance for the
Blue House had worn out and the focus now was on leading the
government to a better, GNP led future. He said the GNP
would chart a better DPRK policy based on reciprocity and
that the ROK should not resume aid to the North despite the
damage from recent heavy rains. However, several other GNP
officials said that aid should restart if the South Korean
people support a move, reflecting ongoing debate about
humanitarian issues in North Korea.
3. (C) Uri Party member Choi Jae-cheon, who harshly
reprimanded Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok for his "U.S.
failed the most" comments in the July 25 Assembly hearings,
said his Party was frustrated with the Blue House, but that
there was no leader who could influence President Roh to step
back from his incendiary policy and personnel decisions. He
explained the stubbornness Roh continues to display makes it
impossible for voices of reason from within the party to be
heard. He noted that the President still wields too much
power and that there should be systematic hearings and
background checks of future ministerial appointments. Choi
said the upcoming Foreign and Defense posts were likely to be
filled with qualified candidates since there were no possible
candidates among Roh's cohorts.
4. (C) Choi expressed certainty that the Uri Party would
split at the start of 2007 and form a new party with former
PM Goh Kun and the Democratic Party (DP). While many have
insinuated this could happen over the past weeks, Choi's
assertion was the first poloff has heard from an Uri Assembly
member. Choi said Chong Dong-yong and Kim Geun-tae's
officials were already out in the countryside trying to drum
up grass roots support for a new, progressive party. He also
added that in informal straw polls conducted by these
officials, support for Roh amongst even his hardest core of
supporters had evaporated. He said that informal polls show
only 20 percent of the informal group of Roh supporters was
still standing by the President.
5. (C) Uri Party member Lee Mi-kyoung told poloff that she
had, "stopped trying to understand the Blue House," and had
stopped hoping the Blue House would act reasonably. She
agreed that PM Han Myoung-suk was a voice of reason and hoped
she would be able to successfully diffuse the DPM Kim
situation. She noted that while Han's stock was rising, she
owed too much to the Blue House to make a strong stand
against the President regarding DPM Kim or other issues.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The frankness with which Uri Party members expressed
their disappointment with Roh was a change from the past.
While obvious policy differences exist between the GNP and
Uri parties on key issues such as North Korea and private
school reform, when it comes to the Blue House and the
cabinet, the parties are now quite close to each other. As
the National Assembly convenes for a new session in about a
month, the Roh Administration should expect difficult
deliberation on virtually all of its legislative agenda.
With the forced resignation of DPM Kim, future cabinet
choices will be contentious. In terms of domestic politics,
President Roh is a lame duck seventeen months before the end
of his term. END COMMENT
YUN