South Korean President May Step Down

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3256980,00.html



SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - President Roh
Moo-hyun on Monday proposed a December
referendum to gauge the public's trust in him, and
said he would step down if he fares poorly.

Roh said he wants holding the referendum on
around Dec. 15 so that, if the vote goes against
him, a presidential election could take place at the
same time as April general elections.

``I believe that time has come to put myself
forward,'' Roh said in a speech made to the
National Assembly. ``If there is a doubt, I believe
that I must put myself forward and undergo the
people's judgment.''

On Saturday, Roh rejected an offer from his
Cabinet and presidential aides to resign amid a
crisis over his leadership. But he left open the
possibility that he could quit if he determines that
he no longer has the public's trust.

after this popularity will soar. Roh did run on the platform that he was going to be the People's president...

Maybe we can start something like this. Have a mid-term vote of confidence election and if the President doesn't pass, he won't be allowed to run for re-election.

and his base of support has been slipping steadily as a result.

The big problem here is that South Korea's congress is controlled by the Grand National Party (GNP). The GNP is full of old conservatives with heavy ties to the military here. They are the ones pushing for the troops in Iraq. In some unbelievable spin, a spokesman for the GNP blamed the fact-finding mission the Korean government sent to Iraq for muddying the issue.

The GNP basically blocks any move the Millenium Democratic Party (MDP) treis to make. The GNP are not interested in the good of the country, they are interested in keeping their positions of power, and they see partisan politics as being the best way to do that. They have on occasion physically kept MDP politicians from attending votes by blocking the entrance to the parliament building.

To keep this ramble a little on-topic here, this article from the Korea Herald says that President Noh appears confident of winning the referendum http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2003/10/14/200310140014.asp">Herald Article here


This one teryang will understand: You can't make good twenjang in 7 months

They are pro-coup rightists, no respect for freedom. I hope that they can be thrown out and a new day emerge, and the old alliances reworked.