Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL977
2008-05-13 08:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
OPPOSITION LAWMAKER KIM BOO-KYUM ON BEEF, FTA, UDP
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000977
SIPDIS
PASS USTR FOR CUTLER, TRICK AND YOO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KN KS
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LAWMAKER KIM BOO-KYUM ON BEEF, FTA, UDP
FUTURE
Classified By: POL Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000977
SIPDIS
PASS USTR FOR CUTLER, TRICK AND YOO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KN KS
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LAWMAKER KIM BOO-KYUM ON BEEF, FTA, UDP
FUTURE
Classified By: POL Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Recently re-elected to a third term, United
Democratic Party (UDP) lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum told poloff over
a May 13 lunch that he believed controversy surrounding the
reopening of the Korean market to U.S. beef would blow over.
Also, he explained that there were several non-binding
resolutions that the UDP hoped to propose, including demands
for a renegotiation of the beef agreement and for the
Agriculture Minister to step down. These resolutions were
"just for political show" since the National Assembly had no
power to influence these executive actions by the central
government. Kim, a Sohn Hak-kyu supporter, is running for
floor leader of the UDP. END SUMMARY
--------------
SPECIAL SESSION AND BEYOND
--------------
2. (C) Over lunch with poloff on May 13, UDP lawmaker Kim
Boo-kyum said a few laws would pass during the special
session that wraps up May 24 but that it would be impossible
for the KORUS FTA to pass. He noted the only reason the Lee
Myung-bak government was pushing for May ratification was so
they could blame the Roh government for any mistakes in the
FTA or the related negotiating process that might come under
fire. This urgency to pass the FTA has only emerged after
the Lee government saw the difficulties surrounding the beef
agreement, Kim claimed.
3. (C) Kim said the UDP should support the Lee government
when it put forward good policies. With no elections until
the local elections in spring 2010, the first order of
business was getting the country running well. If Lee
continued to manage the country like a CEO without leading
"like a patriot" the UDP would sweep the 2010 elections.
Plans like the "ridiculous" grand canal and other Lee
policies that were wrong-headed, the UDP would naturally
oppose. If the UDP supported reasonable laws proposed by the
Lee government and focused less on knee-jerk criticism of Lee
and more on preparing a new vision for Korea, the UDP could
regain support over time.
--------------
BEEF NEXT STEPS
--------------
4. (C) Kim said that hearings scheduled for May 13-14 to
discuss the KORUS FTA in the National Assembly would focus
almost entirely on the controversy surrounding the agreement
to reopen Korea's market to U.S. beef. Kim said the debate
over beef was only natural because so many Korean people
believed U.S. beef was potentially dangerous. The fears
that had sparked protests were "nonsense" but that was the
current reality. He pointed out that he had made no public
comments on the beef issue despite repeated requests from
reporters, because he understood that the agreement was
signed and therefore there was nothing he could do. He
wished the ROKG had negotiated for a gradual opening of the
market, but knew the agreement could not be renegotiated.
5. (C) The UDP would likely propose non-binding resolutions
demanding the central government renegotiate the beef
agreement and change the Minister of Agriculture but these
had no meaning and no practical effect, Kim explained. As
soon as the 17th National Assembly ended, these resolutions
would be forgotten, if they pass at all.
--------------
KIM'S PLACE IN THE PARTY
--------------
6. (C) Kim said he was one of three lawmakers running for
the floor leader position in UDP elections scheduled for May
26-7. Each of the 81 recently elected UDP members will have
a vote. Kim said many of his close colleagues were from the
ruling Grand National Party (GNP) (Note: Kim left the GNP in
2003. End Note) and that his chances for election were not
great.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
7. (C) Kim is a reasonable progressive lawmaker whose role
had been limited in the party by his past affiliation with
the GNP. With his convincing re-election for a third term
and the emergence of former GNP lawmaker and Governor Sohn
Hak-kyu as UDP Chairman, Kim and the centrist platform he
represents could play a more important role in the UDP and
the National Assembly.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
PASS USTR FOR CUTLER, TRICK AND YOO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KN KS
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LAWMAKER KIM BOO-KYUM ON BEEF, FTA, UDP
FUTURE
Classified By: POL Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Recently re-elected to a third term, United
Democratic Party (UDP) lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum told poloff over
a May 13 lunch that he believed controversy surrounding the
reopening of the Korean market to U.S. beef would blow over.
Also, he explained that there were several non-binding
resolutions that the UDP hoped to propose, including demands
for a renegotiation of the beef agreement and for the
Agriculture Minister to step down. These resolutions were
"just for political show" since the National Assembly had no
power to influence these executive actions by the central
government. Kim, a Sohn Hak-kyu supporter, is running for
floor leader of the UDP. END SUMMARY
--------------
SPECIAL SESSION AND BEYOND
--------------
2. (C) Over lunch with poloff on May 13, UDP lawmaker Kim
Boo-kyum said a few laws would pass during the special
session that wraps up May 24 but that it would be impossible
for the KORUS FTA to pass. He noted the only reason the Lee
Myung-bak government was pushing for May ratification was so
they could blame the Roh government for any mistakes in the
FTA or the related negotiating process that might come under
fire. This urgency to pass the FTA has only emerged after
the Lee government saw the difficulties surrounding the beef
agreement, Kim claimed.
3. (C) Kim said the UDP should support the Lee government
when it put forward good policies. With no elections until
the local elections in spring 2010, the first order of
business was getting the country running well. If Lee
continued to manage the country like a CEO without leading
"like a patriot" the UDP would sweep the 2010 elections.
Plans like the "ridiculous" grand canal and other Lee
policies that were wrong-headed, the UDP would naturally
oppose. If the UDP supported reasonable laws proposed by the
Lee government and focused less on knee-jerk criticism of Lee
and more on preparing a new vision for Korea, the UDP could
regain support over time.
--------------
BEEF NEXT STEPS
--------------
4. (C) Kim said that hearings scheduled for May 13-14 to
discuss the KORUS FTA in the National Assembly would focus
almost entirely on the controversy surrounding the agreement
to reopen Korea's market to U.S. beef. Kim said the debate
over beef was only natural because so many Korean people
believed U.S. beef was potentially dangerous. The fears
that had sparked protests were "nonsense" but that was the
current reality. He pointed out that he had made no public
comments on the beef issue despite repeated requests from
reporters, because he understood that the agreement was
signed and therefore there was nothing he could do. He
wished the ROKG had negotiated for a gradual opening of the
market, but knew the agreement could not be renegotiated.
5. (C) The UDP would likely propose non-binding resolutions
demanding the central government renegotiate the beef
agreement and change the Minister of Agriculture but these
had no meaning and no practical effect, Kim explained. As
soon as the 17th National Assembly ended, these resolutions
would be forgotten, if they pass at all.
--------------
KIM'S PLACE IN THE PARTY
--------------
6. (C) Kim said he was one of three lawmakers running for
the floor leader position in UDP elections scheduled for May
26-7. Each of the 81 recently elected UDP members will have
a vote. Kim said many of his close colleagues were from the
ruling Grand National Party (GNP) (Note: Kim left the GNP in
2003. End Note) and that his chances for election were not
great.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
7. (C) Kim is a reasonable progressive lawmaker whose role
had been limited in the party by his past affiliation with
the GNP. With his convincing re-election for a third term
and the emergence of former GNP lawmaker and Governor Sohn
Hak-kyu as UDP Chairman, Kim and the centrist platform he
represents could play a more important role in the UDP and
the National Assembly.
VERSHBOW