I hate this new format. I hate it with passion. I seriously considered quitting MH altogether. But there is just too much good stuff in Korean politics to ignore — so here they are:
- Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? In prison! Lee Sang-Deuk, a former National Assembly member of the older brother of the president, was arrested on the charges of receiving bribes from corporations, in particular savings banks that were facing the government-induced elimination. While there have been many instances of corruption surrounding the president’s family in Korean history, this is the first time in which: (1) a brother of the sitting president was arrested during the president’s term, and (2) the said brother had an independently meaningful political power.
- S.H.I.E.L.D. Namely, NFP’s stance on its Assembly member Jeong Du-Eon. Jeong is also alleged to have received bribes from the same savings banks along with Lee Sang-Deuk. As an incumbent Assembly member, Jeong can be arrested only if the National Assembly votes in favor of such arrest. Yesterday, the NFP voted a gainst allowing the arrest, contrary to its earlier pledge that it would curb its Assembly members’ legislative privilege. This did not even fly well internally within the NFP — Lee Han-Gu, NFP’s majority leader, resigned his post in protest. It must also be noted that the number of votes against the arrest exceeded the number of NFP Assembly members, which likely means that certain members of the progressive parties voted against the arrest as well. The speculation is that those progressive members who also voted against the arrest was shielding Park Ji-Won, a former confidant of Kim Dae-Jung who is also suspected of receiving bribes from the same savings banks.
- Heads Roll. Because of the embarrassing botching of the intelligence-sharing treaty with Japan, the Blue House sacked one of its secretaries, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sacked its director of Northeastern Asia bureau.
- So Nice When They Show Themselves. Racist groups caused a ruckus at a policy seminar regarding multiculturalism in Korea, hosted by Lee Jasmine, the first non-ethnic Korean Assembly member. They claimed that multicultural policies are a ploy to eradicate the Korean race, and called those who tried to stop them “traitors.”
- Tell Us What You Really Think. Here’s someone who cannot stomach the idea of Park Geun-Hye becoming the president — former president and the founder of NFP (or its previous incarnation,) Kim Young-Sam. In a conversation he had with Gov. Kim Moon-Soo (who is also running for presidency,) Kim Young-Sam said: “It is ridiculous that the daughter of an 18-year dictator would become the president. It is against the course of history.” When Kim Moon-Soo noted that he was trailing so far behind Park that it is as if a rabbit is hunting a lion, Kim Young-Sam retorted that Park was a moron, not a lion.
- The Thinning Field. The time to put up or shut up is drawing near, and many potential presidential candidates are shutting up. Chung Dong-Yeong, the progressives’ presidential candidate in the previous election, declared that he would not run again. Chung Mong-Joon and Lee Jae-Oh also declared that they would not participate in NFP’s primary, in protest of NFP’s decision not to hold an open primary.
- Well, That Would Explain All the Killing. Hong Sa-Deok, head of Park Geun-Hye’s campaign team, is in hot water for stating in a press conference: “It is absurd to demand Park Geun-Hye to denounce May 16,” i.e. Park Chung-Hee’s coup d’etat. In 2007, Park Geun-Hye stated in a presidential debate that she considered May 16 to be a “nation-saving revolution.” Hong further said that while the subjects of Goryeo may consider Yi Seonggye’s founding of Joseon to be a coup, King Sejong would consider it a revolution — and Park’s stance is the same as King Sejong’s.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
About that brother thing. I recall that the son of Kim Young-sam and TWO sons of Kim Dae-jung were arrested for corruption, but wasn’t the older brother of Roh Moo-hyun also arrested during Roh’s presidency?
Or was it after?
Anyway, I know the elder Roh has been serving a 30-month stretch since early 2010, so either way you cut it, this seems to be par for the course.
DLB
The format’s going to take some time getting used to but it’s not THAT bad.
I have a question re: PGH. Is she pretty much a shoo-in at this point? Is there anyone who can realistically beat her? Where does she stand on some of the more important/pressing issues facing SK?
Oh, now, there’s no reason to do that.
If I’ve shown anything in nine years of blogging, it’s that I’m amenable to suggestion.
It was shortly after Roh’s term was done. It’s po-ta-to, po-tah-to in my mind. The bigger deal for me is that Lee Sang-Deuk independently had political power, but was still arrested.
If I had to handicap it, as of now:
- Around 20% chance that Kim Moon-Soo beats PGH in the NFP primary.
- Around 40% chance that Moon Jae-In beats PGH in the general election (assuming MJI comes out on the progressive side.)
- Around 50% chance that Ahn Cheol-Soo beats PGH in the general election (same assumption.)
If Park hadn’t carried out the May 16 coup the country Korea wouldn’t have turned out the way it did but he did commit many human righ abuses. So I’m not sure if its a good idea to praise it as nation saving or denounce it as leading to a dictatorship. So hard to figure this out.
National Assembly voting for arrest. Hmmm could this be the beginning of National Assemblyman getting away with lots of priveleges without getting arrested. Sort of like US congress getting away with insider trading until recently.
It’s weird because nobody seems that passionate about her yet her election seems (feels?) inevitable. My wife will be voting for her just because she’s a woman and my wife “feels” like she’ll do a good job. But that’s just my wife and I have to live with her. She’s a great cook.
I wonder nowadays because the politics in the US is beginning to look more and more like what has been happening in The ROK. It is perplexing.
One thing is guaranteed in Korean politics: Either adult sons, or absent adult sons, brothers, of sitting presidents will always do time for bribe talking. Every. Single. Time. Once the election results are in you might as well start the incarceration.
Any way to add one of your signature photos to the top?
Boy are things going to be awkward when the date for presidential pardons rolls around.
I think it’s great. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had the guts to send some of our former(or current) presidents to jail for breaking the law? I’d be all for it.
Where do you stand on the President directing assassinations of American citizens?
hey Robert, have you tried commenting using your smartphone? I’m using an iphone right now and it’s…weird!
Me? Of course I’m against it! Obama should be locked up just for that alone!
Better?
(comment made from Android phone)
“When Kim Moon-Soo noted that he was trailing so far behind Park that it is as if a rabbit is hunting a lion, Kim Young-Sam retorted that Park was a moron, not a lion.”
LOL!
Who posted these good links and commentary? I can’t see anywhere on the post.
Racists of all types are definitely the lowest form of human kind. Interesting that the racist party crasher in the article was also a right winger, equating foreign workers with Kim Jung Il. O.K…. Unfortunately there are loons like that guy in every country. Korea’s no exception.
Don’t forget the daughters.
I am in violent agreement with The Korean — not on politics, but on these format changes. There was nothing about TMH that needed fixing a week ago, and I think the current form is a retrograde step from the interim disqus update you had 1-2 days ago (which I didn’t like but could have gotten used to). I think a column on the right is useful and this current form is clumsy and unappealing.
wouldn’t that be sending a rather strong message? This party wants to be clean, and will no longer cover for those who try to abuse the system? For the inner circle, that would read: if you get caught, we won’t cover for you.
Except that NFP quickly turned around and shielded Jeong Du-Eon from arrest. (Refer to the second bullet point in the post.) The message is more like: “You and your brother are worthless to us now. Move aside.”
yeah, very true
Concerning the absurdity raised by the racist groups in reaction to multiculturalism policies and the destruction of the Korean race. Fools at best they might be, the Korean race us being destroyed by Seoulites (for a lack of better term). True Koreans are the people that you find in the country or working non-office jobs here in Seoul. The people that go out of their way, the people that I remember from over 30 years ago that were working in the sweat shops trying to survive BUT would do what they could to help others. There are now two races in Korea one of Koreans and one of Seoulites and if things don’t change the Korean race will be destroyed and replaced by Seoulites. Is this a good thing? Seoulites stand up and except responsibility the way a Korean would, destroy your Seoulite ways and become Korean again!
TheKorean posted them. For some reason today the names of OPs are missing.
I have to say I’m with the “if it wasn’t broken, why fix it?” crowd.
MoonJaeIn will beat PGH by 60-40. Right now, Jolla Commies are fooling pollsters. But, at election time, 95% will vote for Moon. Only caveat is if Ahn runs then the Jolla block vote can split. However, even then, one of the two will beat PGH easily. PGH got nothing to show and LMB’s history does not help PGH. She may get votes from over 50 crowd but not by big margin. She has no chance.
You must log in to post a comment.
{ 1 trackback }