Many in S. Korea are schizophrenic. They support Roh but hate its consequence. This reminds me of people who never fail to watch a TV drama they swear they hate.
The result is to escape the situation by emigrating. Mush emotional retards.
As for Ambassador Hong, here is the inside story: In 2003, Roh paid a visit to Hong, and had a quiet chat. Since then, the tone of JoongAng Ilbo has been subtly changing. Now. It completely left the conservative camp. Depending on the issue, it is either center or left now. Roh is also forging alliance with Samsung, to which JoongAng Ilbo is affiliated(Hong is (Samsung Chairman) Lee Keun-hee's in-law.) This way Samsung and its affiliated groups can escape government's "persecution." This seems another way of the emergence of business community's unified front against Roh.
Hong was previously imprisoned under Kim Dae-jung for some tax trouble, which was an attempt to rein on conservative major dailies. He has now become a government mouthpiece. I may understand his motive. However, it is a costly mistake which would haunt him for a long time. It is better for him to quit ambassadorship now than forcing himself to continue. At least that is what I will do if I am in his shoes.
Roh now changed his tactics. He decided to take on a facade of pragmatist, making concessions on his economic agenda. He tries to shore up economy, which would boost his popularity and strengthen his political position. To do that, he distanced himself from some hardcore ideologues, who want to hold on to all lefties agenda and implement them now.
However, he still retains some crucial leftist agenda, pro-North policy and anti-American and anti-Japanese stance. And scouring over records of dead collaborators and their descendants, and rehabilitating communist partisans and communists as nationalists and patriots.
Still I think he is playing fire by keeping undermining S.Korea-U.S. alliance and cozying up with China. He is way over his league. I think he is signing his political death warrant.
Correction:
This seems another way of checking the emergence of business community's unified front against Roh.
Thanks TLR -- very illuminating and I agree entirely. I only hope it is political and not national suicide Roh is gambling.
He certainly is playing a very dangerous game.
China however appears to be doing well indeed: they are slowing slicing away at two of our main supports, our allies and our access to resources, in particular oil. They apparently are having quite a bit of success at humint, and likely have a well-developed infiltration of Taiwan ready for major sabotage and other dirty work when the invasion begins.