FORMER FM SONG DECLARES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000574 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2018 TAGS: PROG PREL KS PINR SUBJECT: FORMER FM SONG DECLARES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDACY FOR UDP Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow. Reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) In a March 21 telcon with the Ambassador, former Foreign Minister Song Min-soon said that he was running for a proportional seat for the National Assembly on the United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket. Song expressed concern that certain candidates within the UDP might pull the party toward extreme positions on foreign policy, and in particular against the U.S.-ROK Alliance. Song had decided to join the UDP in order to "fight" against such extremism and pull the party toward the "middle ground." Song said he had made the decision after consulting with some of his former colleagues at MOFAT, who urged him to run. Strengthening the ROK-U.S. Alliance and fostering bipartisanship on foreign policy would be his main agenda. ¶2. (C) Song said he had considered running on the GNP ticket, but had ultimately chosen in favor of the UDP because the opposition party needed more help in "moving to the middle" and would give him "more room to play." In addition, Song mentioned his previous experience working with current UDP Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu when Song served as a diplomatic advisor to the then-Gyeonggi Province governor. The leaders within the UDP understood his firm resolve to strengthen the Alliance, Song said. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: If Song secures one of the top slots in the UDP slate, he will win a seat. His entrance into the race has been perceived as a UDP countermove to former Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo's proportional representative candidacy for the GNP. As Foreign Minister, Song had considerable presence in the Cabinet and plenty of positive exposure because he was viewed as a voice of reason in the way of President Roh's more extreme policies toward North Korea. Song will be a plus for the UDP. END COMMENT. VERSHBOW