Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL822
2006-03-14 09:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #0822 0730910 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 140910Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6585 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0256 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0340 RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000822
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV KS
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER OFFERS RESIGNATION
REF: SEOUL 802
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000822
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV KS
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER OFFERS RESIGNATION
REF: SEOUL 802
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (SBU) Following clear signs that the ruling Uri Party
believed PM Lee Hae-chan should step down, President Roh has
indicated that he will accept Lee's resignation. In a
meeting shortly after Roh's return to Seoul March 14 from an
overseas trip, Lee offered his resignation "without
reservation or resentment" to take responsibility for his
"inappropriate golf" (see REFTEL). The Uri Party announced
that, in a subsequent meeting with party leader Chung
Dong-young, Roh had said he would "respect the will of the
party." That statement effectively telegraphs Roh's
decision, but is still short of a formal acceptance of Lee's
resignation.
2. (C) No clear front-runners have emerged to replace Lee,
and we are also hearing reports that Roh might opt to install
an interim PM, with a permanent replacement to be named after
May 31. Delaying the nomination would defer a potentially
bruising confirmation hearing until after the crucial May 31
regional elections.
3. (C) COMMENT: The ruling Uri Party's decision to abandon
Lee Hae-chan appears to have tipped the balance against the
PM. The party was reportedly convinced to act after a
weekend poll showed that 60 percent of the public wanted Lee
to resign, that negative numbers were going up, and that
keeping Lee would create further drag on the Uri Party in the
run-up to the regional elections. Still, although Lee's
departure brings an end to the "inappropriate golf" scandal,
it is doubtful that Uri's prospects in May will have markedly
benefited from the resignation. END COMMENT.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV KS
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER OFFERS RESIGNATION
REF: SEOUL 802
Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (SBU) Following clear signs that the ruling Uri Party
believed PM Lee Hae-chan should step down, President Roh has
indicated that he will accept Lee's resignation. In a
meeting shortly after Roh's return to Seoul March 14 from an
overseas trip, Lee offered his resignation "without
reservation or resentment" to take responsibility for his
"inappropriate golf" (see REFTEL). The Uri Party announced
that, in a subsequent meeting with party leader Chung
Dong-young, Roh had said he would "respect the will of the
party." That statement effectively telegraphs Roh's
decision, but is still short of a formal acceptance of Lee's
resignation.
2. (C) No clear front-runners have emerged to replace Lee,
and we are also hearing reports that Roh might opt to install
an interim PM, with a permanent replacement to be named after
May 31. Delaying the nomination would defer a potentially
bruising confirmation hearing until after the crucial May 31
regional elections.
3. (C) COMMENT: The ruling Uri Party's decision to abandon
Lee Hae-chan appears to have tipped the balance against the
PM. The party was reportedly convinced to act after a
weekend poll showed that 60 percent of the public wanted Lee
to resign, that negative numbers were going up, and that
keeping Lee would create further drag on the Uri Party in the
run-up to the regional elections. Still, although Lee's
departure brings an end to the "inappropriate golf" scandal,
it is doubtful that Uri's prospects in May will have markedly
benefited from the resignation. END COMMENT.
VERSHBOW