Comments on: Oh, Noh, not again…

By: This is Too Good to Be True: Roh to Go? at rokdrop.com

This is Too Good to Be True: Roh to Go? at rokdrop.com — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 03:20:49 +0000

[...] Read more over at Lost Nomad and the Marmot’s Hole. [...]

By: virtual wonderer

virtual wonderer — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:04:09 +0000

I remember back in the day when Roh was elected, and I thought, well, this guy used to be friends with some freaks, but he might be better than GNP. How I am eating my words. Only reason he was elected and saved from impeachment was due to GNP bungling. I guess it’s Hannara now, but these guys all have a way of wearing different hats every few years…

Anyway, at the time Roh was elected, lots of Koreans were hopeful that he could reduce general corruption and regional politics. But his failures are just too striking. To steer Korea from the path of war is very understandable, but he did it in the most foolish way imaginable. In the end his presidency will be remembered for:

1. Failure to move the capital
2. Failure in bringing historical “justice”
3. Failure with Sunshine policy simultaneously failing to uphold North Korean human rights.
4. Failure to sign any FTA while simultaneously failing to satisfying farmers and unions.
5. Failure to bridge Korea’s regional rivalry
6. Severely straining diplomatic ties with US, Japan, and China (yes them too)
7. Weaking ROK military posture (remember how he did nothing after DPRK sunk boats?)

If he really resign, then that would be a tremendous political achievement where a leader acknowledges he is a f&8k up and takes responsibility.

Kim Jae Gyu… His statue should replace Lee Soon Shin

By: sumo294

sumo294 — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 09:05:49 +0000

I agree with Baduk 100% but he fails to see the whole picture. Noh has singlehandedly destroyed the counter culture movement of Korea for the next 30 years. Yes, defense is down but it can yet be salvaged. It is more important that liberals in Korea will never come into power again for a whole generation. However, reform in the GNP was and is needed. Many things need to change in regards to FTA, labor reform, corporate governance, schools, and the eventual change into an all volunteer army. Listen guys–the Norks only can attack South Korea by conventional weapons within a decade, their degradation of coventional arms every year is certain without a massive upgrade. The nuke is the only real monkey wrench.

By: Kunsanpcv

Kunsanpcv — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 08:01:31 +0000

This is not much of a threat coming from a guy whose public approval ratings are at almost single digit levels. So much posturing, so little governance. No wonder some people are nostalgic for PCH.

By: SomeguyinKorea

SomeguyinKorea — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:34:06 +0000

The funny thing is that this sort of nonsense is pretty tame for Korean politicians. After all, they have have been known to make sexist comments aimed at female assembly members, punch, kick and throw shoes at each other,and even kick and scream like a 2 year-old while rolling on the floor of the national assembly.

By: TomCoyner

TomCoyner — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:28:49 +0000

This is Classic Roh — feigned humility without any chance of him going through with his threat, while attempting to shake up the political landscape and the nation. In the process he has in the past — but less likely today with a wiser, wearier nation — created turmoil that has diverted national resources from more productive pursuits.

While he cannot be fairly blamed for the total result, this kind of irresponsible “leadership” of off-the-cuff survival politics at the expense of the country has been largely responsible for S Korea’s ranking to slip diplomatically and economically. It is not surprising that the opposition is calling for him to hang in there and finish term of office. The opposition cynically recognizes that the longer and his supporters hold office, the better they will look for the scheduled presidential elections.

In the unlikelihood, should Roh step down early, the costs of an unscheduled election would be gigantic — and that would be his final legacy.

Hoo, boy — wotta country.

By: Curzon

Curzon — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:59:11 +0000

I second the motion by Seth Gecko.

Nice summary of Roh’s president Rob. Couldn’t have been written better.

By: Kunsanpcv

Kunsanpcv — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:35:23 +0000

Roh’s administration would have been quite positive IF the ROK was a ‘normal’ country. Unfortunately, the ROK is not a normal country, but rather a divided nation still in a state of unresolved civil war. Roh’s administration has been amateurish at best and incompetent at its worst. It is not enough to have good intentions, you have to be able to act with ability to protect and defend the national interests. Korean politics has MUCH that is dysfunctional about it, Roh has not helped address those problems IMHO.

By: mins0306

mins0306 — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:53:05 +0000

This is pathetic.

If he wants to quit that much then why did he run for president?

By: Warren

Warren — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:25:37 +0000

The Korean people deserve better than Noh but they’re the ones who elected him. As much as I like Koreans and admire their culture, the irrational emotionalism is annoying on a general level and downright pathetic when it comes from the President.

I guess the standard bedside headshot of him hospitalized for stress is coming next. I hope I have enough Kleenex with me when I see it.