OK, not really, but Comrade Unification Minister Chung Dong-young did express his intention to resign his ministerial position as soon as the budget is passed sometime around New Years. Chung told Yonhap on Tuesday that he informed President Roh of his intention during a brunch this morning.
A source close to Health and Welfare Minister Kim Geun-tae said Kim would also resign following the passing of the budget.
None of this should come as a shock, of course. The two were widely expected to resign so that they could return to the battered Uri Party and, they hope, put a break on the party’s free-fall in the public opinion polls.
Possible candidates to replace Comrade Chung are former MDP lawmaker Choo Mi-ae and–sit down for this one–National Security Council (NSC) deputy chief Lee Jong-seok. Actually, seeing Lee become Unification Minister might not be as disastrous as it would initially seem. Lots of negative things could be said about Lee, the supposed head of the Cheong Wa Dae Taliban faction, but the former Sejong Institute scholar is a legitimate North Korea expert. In his current position as deputy NSC chief, he’s handicapped by the fact that the only thing he really knows about is North Korea. As Unification Minister, the narrow nature of his area of expertise could be less of a problem.
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10 Comments
If Chung steps down we’ll still have to endure his smug, vacuous presence as a presidential candidate.
If Chung steps down we’ll still have to endure his smug, vacuous presence as a presidential candidate.
I can’t find the post on Chung using the term “comrade,” so I’ll just post my questions here.
It was ?? that he used, right? For you Japanese or Chinese speakers, is ?? the same term used for a “like-minded” comrade?
Is this comrade comment on tape? Do they have him saying this where people can see it? If so, I don’t see him winning the presidency. That would rob just too many people the wrong way.
Kushibo, it was all over the news. Here’s one report and one editorial cartoon about it:
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engne.....414E2.html
http://english.chosun.com/w21d.....30025.html
It would be great if this torpedoed his chances to get elected, but you know the true believers got a woody when they heard him say “comrade,” and he does have that game show host kind of plastic charisma, so he’s probably still a contender.
Here are the Korean reports.
And yes, the term used was ??.
Mr. Marmot, I have it on good authority that you’re almost certainly right about Chung’s replacement….
Kushibo, it was all over the news.
I know. I’m just lazy.
Here’s one report and one editorial cartoon about it:
http://english.yna.co.kr/Engne.....414E2.html
http://english.chosun.com/w21d.....30025.html
Great cartoon. But it’s preaching to the choir.
It would be great if this torpedoed his chances to get elected, but you know the true believers got a woody when they heard him say “comrade,” and he does have that game show host kind of plastic charisma, so he’s probably still a contender.
The “true believers” are already voting for him, so it makes no difference.
Without the capital relocation to garner ??-area votes, I think his chances are much slimmer than Roh’s were.
I seriously hope the Uri party is dumb enogh to field him. I want to see that smug look slip off his face…
or, if he wins, then I know I have to step up my plans to get out of here.
I would rather see Kim Guen Tae running for president rather than the Minister of Disinformation, Chung. Unlike Chung, Kim has substance and is a very nice fellow too.
Only a self-hating fool would vote for Chung.
Do any of you guys actually have voting rights in Korea? Just curious.
Do any of you guys actually have voting rights in Korea? Just curious.
No. The ROK government just gives me the right to pay taxes.