Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL973
2006-03-24 08:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
HAN MYUNG-SOOK NAMED PRIME MINISTER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #0973 0830851 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 240851Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6848 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0351 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0434 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 1598 RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// PRIORITY
UNCLAS SEOUL 000973
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS
SUBJECT: HAN MYUNG-SOOK NAMED PRIME MINISTER
REF: SEOUL 822
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLS PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
UNCLAS SEOUL 000973
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS
SUBJECT: HAN MYUNG-SOOK NAMED PRIME MINISTER
REF: SEOUL 822
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLS PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Roh on March 24 nominated Han
Myung-sook, a two-time former Cabinet minister and current
Uri lawmaker, to be his new prime minister, subject to
parliamentary confirmation. She would replace Lee Hae-chan,
who stepped down earlier this months in the wake of a golf
scandal (REFTEL). If confirmed, she would become Korea's
first female prime minister. Known for her even-keeled
leadership, Han is well-regarded by colleagues in both sides
of the National Assembly and is expected to win confirmation.
END SUMMARY.
ROH NAMES HAN MYUNG-SOOK
--------------
2. (SBU) The Blue House announced March 24 that President
Roh has nominated Han Myung-sook to replace Lee Hae-chan as
prime minister. Lee Hae-chan resigned March 14 as a result
of the "inappropriate golf" scandal (REFTEL). The nomination
is subject to confirmation by the National Assembly. No date
has been set yet for hearings.
3. (SBU) The ruling Uri Party and women's groups have lauded
Han's nomination. Public opinion appears to be positive.
Reaction from the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has
been muted. GNP Floor Leader Lee Jae-oh limited himself to
pointing out that Han should resign from the Uri Party in
order to show that she will be non-partisan in carrying out
her duties as prime minister.
4. (SBU) If confirmed, Han would become Korea's first female
prime minister. (NOTE: President Kim Dae-jung's attempt to
name a woman in 2002 failed in the face of charges that the
nominee, Chang Sang, had included misleading information in
her resume and financial disclosure forms. END NOTE.) The
Blue House has indicated that President Roh expects Han, like
her predecessor, to assume responsibility for the day-to-day
management of state affairs. However, although Roh is said
to have been impressed with Han's even-keeled leadership as
Minister of Environment, it is not apparent that the two have
the same type of close political and personal relationship
that Roh had with Lee Hae-chan.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Roh has handled this episode with unusual
speed and tact. Not only did he accept Lee's resignation on
the same day it was offered, he has nominated a successor
whose character and qualifications have broad appeal. He has
also gone out of his way to consult -- and heed -- the
counsel of his ruling party, and solicit the views of the
opposition. By naming a non-controversial, well-respected
woman, Roh has minimized the GNP's ability to draw blood
during the confirmation hearing. Reaction to Han's
nomination thus far suggests likely confirmation. END COMMENT.
BIO INFORMATION ON HAN MYUNG-SOOK
--------------
6. (SBU) Han Myung-sook is a second-term lawmaker and
two-time Cabinet minister. She is widely respected for her
pro-democracy credentials, integrity, and even-keeled
leadership style. Her first term in the National Assembly,
to which she was elected in 2000, was interrupted when
President Kim Dae-jung named her his inaugural Minister for
Gender Equality (2001-02). Subsequently, President Roh
Moo-hyun named her Minister of Environment (2003-04). In
April 2004, she returned to electoral office, winning her
second term in the National Assembly on the proportional list
of the Uri Party. From 2004-05, she served on the Steering
Committee of the ruling party.
7. (SBU) Born in 1944 in Pyongyang, Han was active in the
pro-democracy movement and was a pioneer in the fight for the
rights of women and children in Korea. She has also
identified North-South reunification as her other top area of
interest. Both Han and her husband, theologian Park
Seong-jun, were imprisoned during the Park Jung-hee era for
their pro-democracy activities, she for two-and-a-half years
(1979-1981) and he for thirteen (1968-1981). Han holds a
Ph.D. in women's studies and B.A. in French literature from
Ewha University. She also earned a master's degree in
theology from Hanshin University. She and Park have one son.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS
SUBJECT: HAN MYUNG-SOOK NAMED PRIME MINISTER
REF: SEOUL 822
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLS PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Roh on March 24 nominated Han
Myung-sook, a two-time former Cabinet minister and current
Uri lawmaker, to be his new prime minister, subject to
parliamentary confirmation. She would replace Lee Hae-chan,
who stepped down earlier this months in the wake of a golf
scandal (REFTEL). If confirmed, she would become Korea's
first female prime minister. Known for her even-keeled
leadership, Han is well-regarded by colleagues in both sides
of the National Assembly and is expected to win confirmation.
END SUMMARY.
ROH NAMES HAN MYUNG-SOOK
--------------
2. (SBU) The Blue House announced March 24 that President
Roh has nominated Han Myung-sook to replace Lee Hae-chan as
prime minister. Lee Hae-chan resigned March 14 as a result
of the "inappropriate golf" scandal (REFTEL). The nomination
is subject to confirmation by the National Assembly. No date
has been set yet for hearings.
3. (SBU) The ruling Uri Party and women's groups have lauded
Han's nomination. Public opinion appears to be positive.
Reaction from the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has
been muted. GNP Floor Leader Lee Jae-oh limited himself to
pointing out that Han should resign from the Uri Party in
order to show that she will be non-partisan in carrying out
her duties as prime minister.
4. (SBU) If confirmed, Han would become Korea's first female
prime minister. (NOTE: President Kim Dae-jung's attempt to
name a woman in 2002 failed in the face of charges that the
nominee, Chang Sang, had included misleading information in
her resume and financial disclosure forms. END NOTE.) The
Blue House has indicated that President Roh expects Han, like
her predecessor, to assume responsibility for the day-to-day
management of state affairs. However, although Roh is said
to have been impressed with Han's even-keeled leadership as
Minister of Environment, it is not apparent that the two have
the same type of close political and personal relationship
that Roh had with Lee Hae-chan.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Roh has handled this episode with unusual
speed and tact. Not only did he accept Lee's resignation on
the same day it was offered, he has nominated a successor
whose character and qualifications have broad appeal. He has
also gone out of his way to consult -- and heed -- the
counsel of his ruling party, and solicit the views of the
opposition. By naming a non-controversial, well-respected
woman, Roh has minimized the GNP's ability to draw blood
during the confirmation hearing. Reaction to Han's
nomination thus far suggests likely confirmation. END COMMENT.
BIO INFORMATION ON HAN MYUNG-SOOK
--------------
6. (SBU) Han Myung-sook is a second-term lawmaker and
two-time Cabinet minister. She is widely respected for her
pro-democracy credentials, integrity, and even-keeled
leadership style. Her first term in the National Assembly,
to which she was elected in 2000, was interrupted when
President Kim Dae-jung named her his inaugural Minister for
Gender Equality (2001-02). Subsequently, President Roh
Moo-hyun named her Minister of Environment (2003-04). In
April 2004, she returned to electoral office, winning her
second term in the National Assembly on the proportional list
of the Uri Party. From 2004-05, she served on the Steering
Committee of the ruling party.
7. (SBU) Born in 1944 in Pyongyang, Han was active in the
pro-democracy movement and was a pioneer in the fight for the
rights of women and children in Korea. She has also
identified North-South reunification as her other top area of
interest. Both Han and her husband, theologian Park
Seong-jun, were imprisoned during the Park Jung-hee era for
their pro-democracy activities, she for two-and-a-half years
(1979-1981) and he for thirteen (1968-1981). Han holds a
Ph.D. in women's studies and B.A. in French literature from
Ewha University. She also earned a master's degree in
theology from Hanshin University. She and Park have one son.
VERSHBOW