Posted on 05/31/2005 3:40:43 PM PDT by ParsifalCA
In a move that demonstrates that the South Korean opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is comfortable flexing its international muscles, dynamic GNP leader Park Geun Hye announced an official trip to the Peoples Republic of China. This could be a dramatic new development in unraveling the Gordian knot of North Korean nuclear negotiations that have been stalled by convoluted machinations by all sides. Till now South Korean spokesmen came mostly from President Roh Moo Hyun’s hard left-leaning Uri Party. Recall that Roh, as was his predecessor Kim Dae Jung, is a born-again appeaser who is willing to cut any possible deal with the rapacious regime of Kim Jong Il rather than have to face difficult, courageous decisions. Conversely, GNP leadership is approaching the issue from an entirely different point of view, demanding accountability and responsibility from North Korea.
It is appropriate that America focuses some attention on Ms Park. She is a substantive leader beginning to make her presence felt on a world stage. She is drawing significant attention in the gray, inward-looking world of Korean Peninsula politics. Surprising Westerners, Ms Park is a serious contender for the presidency in a male dominated culture. Be advised that Ms Park is no neophyte in dealing with difficult issues. As a fifty-something, extraordinarily bright, attractive daughter of the late military leader of South Korea, Park Chung Hee, she has undergone a rough initiation into the often violent world of North-South confrontation...
(Excerpt) Read more at theonerepublic.com ...
Indeed. And, in Korea we have a very unusual set of circumstances where the Roh Moo-hyun governemt does NOT speak for a majority of Koreans. It is presently supported by a little over 20%.
On the other hand, Ms. Park's Grand National Party has majoriyt status in the National Assmebly and routine routs the weak and hapless Uri party every time they contest a seat.
In a parliamenary system Roh Moo-hyun would be long gone and his band of incompetents with him. And at the end of his term, he will be.
In the meantime, thinking Koreans are trying their best to head to head off and disrupt the worst of the blundering (many would call them treasnoous)acts of the present disastrous government in anticipation of the time it will fall into competent hands again.
It doesn't seem like Korea has ever had a competent leader, or at least one they consider as such.
Park Chung-hee comes to mind. Maybe also Kim Young-sam. But not since Kim left office eight years ago.
Pak Chung--hee was assasinated if I remember right and was regarded as a dictator. I do think Kim Young-sam was decent, but there was widespread discontent with him too. It may have something to do with the Koreans too.
My remark was not concerned with whether they were LIKED - but only whether they were competent. Park Chung-hee almost by sheer dint of his personality galvanized the Korean nation, and inspired it to become a modern industrialized country. Sure, he was a "dictator", but not of the "tyrant" ilk. He was more imperious than dictatorial. He was single minded and relentless in the pursuit of Korean advancement.
Kim Young-sam was the natural heir of Park Chung-hee and made democratic norms part of Korean life. Both of these men have important legacies for Korea.
The last two Presidentas have been little better than North Korean agents of influence in the South.
The last two Presidentas have been little better than North Korean agents of influence in the South.
No real dispute there.
You aren't a politician are you?
That depends on what you mean by "politician". If by that you mean somebody that avoids pissing other people off, then I'm not much of one. If you mean somebody that contests elections, then I'm no politician at all.
I've seen a couple of office-holders with that name.
While I'm not one who looks to do battle, I nonetheless, tend to piss people off. It's a living.
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