Roh Spins Administration Free Let Alone Puzzling Problems

On October 12, major Japanese newspapers reported the chaos of the Korean political circles including President Roh’s suggestion of a confidence vote, the series of cabinet members’ resignation, and Roh’s refusal of accepting the resignations.

Asahi Shinbun passed on the Korean political news minutely on its composite and international page, Yomiuri Shinbun brought into relief the crisis of Korean political world with a sensational title “Roh’s Regime Faces its Last Stage.”

Asahi pointed out on its special coverage, titled as “Roh’s Regime, Having Desperate Remedies,” that “it has been a half year since his inauguration, popular support for President Roh has already gone lower than that of the President Kim Young-sam,” further indicating Roh’s losing his support due to sending troops to Iraq, depression of the economy, and suspicion on his follower’s injustice.

“It seems Roh intended to take back his power on the government at once, but it happens to be one of an unprecedented measure connected to the general election of next year that can spread out to the problem of his resigning or remaining in office,” added Asahi.

“Roh’s allusion of a confidence vote is a big speculation staking his regime, but the problem places on whether he can be pardoned after spinning the national administration free from control, when the North Korean nuclear problem and stagnation of economy is still left over,” pointed out Yomiuri.

“As a result of a public opinion survey held recently, support for holding a confidence vote won by a narrow margin. But, it doesn’t guarantee Roh will take hold of the election under his intention,” analyzed Nihon Keizai Shinbun.

Reuters, on October 11, received the background of Roh’s remark, passing on that Roh slips remarks very easily, having faced with an oppressive criticism from the press and the political world.

“Roh is straight speaking but copes with improvisation,” reported Reuter quoting one of a foreign diplomat’s speech. “The people regard his behavior as unworthy and it [speech] did not help out much.”

“Roh seems to have the California recall election on his mind,” reported the Los Angeles Times quoting its well informed Korean sources, on October 11, further adding, “Nobody understands what is going on right now, but instead they are thinking of it as watching a type of Kabuki play.”

The newspaper also reported that Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) is anxious about Roh’s announcement of the election, saying, “It can incur social insecurity, adding an extra weight to the crisis of the economy.”

Ki-Tae Kwon Hun-Joo Cho kkt@donga.com hanscho@donga.com