Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL1988
2009-12-22 07:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR RAISES HAGUE CONVENTION ON CHILD

Tags:  PGOV SOCI PHUM KOCI CASC KTIP KJUS KS 
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VZCZCXYZ1816
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #1988/01 3560722
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 220722Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6544
INFO RUCNKOR/KOREA COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 7135
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RUACAAA/COMUSKOREA INTEL SEOUL KOR
RHMFISS/COMUSFK SEOUL KOR
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001988 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PHUM KOCI CASC KTIP KJUS KS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES HAGUE CONVENTION ON CHILD
ABDUCTION AND TIP WITH MINISTER OF JUSTICE

Classified By: Ambassador Kathleen Stephens. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001988

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PHUM KOCI CASC KTIP KJUS KS
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES HAGUE CONVENTION ON CHILD
ABDUCTION AND TIP WITH MINISTER OF JUSTICE

Classified By: Ambassador Kathleen Stephens. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 16, Ambassador Stephens and
Consul General Cynthia Sharpe met with Minister of Justice
Lee Gwi-nam to press for Korea to accede to the Hague
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Parental
Child Abduction and to continue to fight human trafficking in
Korea and abroad. The Ambassador noted that next year is the
tenth anniversary of the 2000 UN Protocol on Trafficking in
Persons (UN TIP Protocol) and said that Korea's ratification
would send an important signal to the international
community. Lee said the Ministry of Justice was reviewing
both Hague and the UN TIP Protocol, and Ambassador Stephens
emphasized that the U.S. and Korea should to continue to
cooperate closely on both issues. END SUMMARY.

--------------
Rule of Law
--------------


2. (C) The Ambassador began her December 16 meeting with
Minister of Justice Lee Kwi-nam by complimenting Korea's
rapid progress in short decades with respect to rule of law
and protection of human rights. Lee chuckled and thanked the
Ambassador for saying that Koreans respected the rule of law,
indicating he thought Korea had more progress to make. Since
taking office, Lee has strongly opposed "illegal" strikes and
joined Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee in condemning the recent
railway workers strike. (Comment: Ironically, Lee Kwi-nam
assumed the office of the Minister of Justice in September
despite his admission of and apology for registering a false
address so his son could attend a prestigious high school --
a common practice among the elite in Korea. End Comment.)

--------------
Hague Accession
--------------


3. (C) The Ambassador noted that all G-8 countries except
Japan as well as the majority of G-20 countries are members
of the Hague Convention on International Child Abductions.
The issue has been in the spotlight again, the Ambassador
said, because of high profile child abduction cases in Japan.

She told Lee that the Embassy was eager to assist and
support the ROKG as it moved closer to accession. Referring
to his talking points, Lee said that the Ministry of Justice
(MOJ) was looking into joining the convention and was willing
to cooperate closely with the Embassy. MOJ International
Legal Affairs Division Director Lee Sang-yong, who was also
present, noted that his office had already started discussing
this issue with U.S. Embassy officials. Consul General
Sharpe said that she understood that the ROKG had indicated
it agreed in principle to joining the Hague convention.

--------------
Trafficking in Persons
--------------


4. (C) Ambassador Stephens observed that as Korea became
more globalized so did its challenges in regards to human
trafficking. The Ambassador said she hoped to continue our
excellent cooperation with Seoul to maintain the ROK's
excellent track record on combating trafficking in persons
(TIP). Lee said that Korea had made progress in fighting
trafficking domestically but recognized that the government
needed to cooperate more closely with the international
community to address transnational aspects of the problem.
Ambassador Stephens said that because next year is the tenth
anniversary of the UN Protocol on Trafficking in Persons,
Korea's ratification would send an important signal about the
government's commitment to anti-TIP efforts. Lee noted
recent difficulties in the National Assembly, but said he
understood the need for ratification.

--------------
Legal Cooperation and Exchange
--------------


5. (C) Lee thanked Ambassador Stephens for her efforts to
implement the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The Ambassador
noted that, despite the global economic downturn and the
unfavorable exchange rate, about 230,000 Koreans had made use
of the VWP since its inception. She noted that there was
still a need for the U.S. and Korea to work more closely
together on legal issues -- like sharing criminal records --
but said that overall cooperation has been very good.


6. (C) Lee commented on how close the current U.S.-Korea

relationship is and said that a strong U.S.-Japan
relationship is also crucial to Northeast Asian security.
Expressing her confidence in the prospects for U.S.-Japan
relations, the Ambassador said that good Korea-Japan
relations were also essential. In response to her question
about legal cooperation between the two countries, Lee said
Korea and Japan had close legal ties because their systems
were so similar and because many Korean prosecutors had
studied law in Japan and vice versa. These days, however,
Korea's legal system was becoming more like that of the U.S.
because of the large number of Koreans who study there, Lee
said. The Ambassador said that she hoped the U.S. and Korea
continued the successful judicial exchange programs that had
benefited legal professionals in both countries.
STEPHENS