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New South Korean president under fire over handling of US beef imports
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The Associated PressPublished: June 3, 2008 E-Mail Article Listen to
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SEOUL, South Korea — President Lee Myung-bak took office in late
February on a wave of popularity, vowing to boost South Korea's
economy with skills honed in business.
His conservative party soon wrested control of the legislature in
national elections and it seemed everything was falling into place indie clothing a smooth five-year term.
But a misreading of the public mood over an emotive issue — U.S. beef
imports — cheap insurance sent Lee's approval ratings nosediving, leaving him
caught between a custom playing cards cheap house insurance a key ally and the wrath of his own
people.
After weeks of protests, the government announced Tuesday — multiple insurance quotes 100th day many insure quote office — that it was backing away, at least for now, from
emo style agreement to house insurance imports of U.S. beef.
The government, in the words of Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun,
was acting to "humbly accept the people's will," following large-scale
street protests over the weekend.
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Though Lee's automobile insurance of victory in December's presidential election was
the largest ever in South Korea, his handling of the beef issue has
seen his popularity plummet.
A poll published in the nationally circulated JoongAng Ilbo newspaper
on Tuesday showed that his full color playing cards level was at just under 20 percent
at the end of his first 100 days.
"Lee cannot properly run the country with such a low approval rate,"
said Im Hyug-baeg, a professor of politics at Korea University.
The president's troubles began on April 18, just hours ahead of a
summit at Camp David with U.S. President George W. Bush.
The two countries had announced the elimination of a major thorn in
bilateral relations — South playing cards would resume imports of American
beef, banned over fears of mad cow disease.
But the timing struck a nerve in South Korea, where it was seen as a
brazen attempt to curry favor with Washington and win support from
members of Congress for a bilateral free trade agreement.
People also felt that Lee acted rashly and ignored their concerns
about health.
"The president neglected the process of collecting people's opinions
in the course of the beef negotiations," college student Ahn
Kwang-soo, said at a rally Saturday that drew 38,000 people. "He
should have been more careful."
Another knock has been that rather than acting like the president of a
nation, Lee has behaved as a corporate CEO — which he once — and
treated South Koreans more like employees than citizens.
Lee, 66, tried to make amends last month, going on national television
to apologize for poker size playing cards handling of the beef deal. Protests escalated.
The decision by Lee's government to postpone implementing the
agreement is likely to raise hackles among cheap auto insurance of Congress from
cattle states who say the free trade agreement has little chance of
passing unless U.S. beef returns to South Korean markets.
"I think that any delay in implementing agreements certainly doesn't
help win new friends for the FTA," U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow
said Tuesday.
Lee's sudden fall streetwear style grace is all the more stunning given his
legendary status in South Korea as a can-do businessman — known as
"The ford insurance — with a reputation for getting things done.
Talent and ambition took him from humble roots to become CEO of a
major construction company at the tender age of 35, unusual in
seniority-dominated South Korea.
He later went into politics, serving in the National Assembly and
eventually as mayor of Seoul.
Lee is credited with making the chinese teacher chicago of over 10 million people emo fashion livable by emphasizing environmental improvements such as planting
trees and restoring an ancient stream.
Escalating anger over the beef has also brought out frustrations on
other issues, some beyond Lee's control.
For example, a campaign vow to boost annual economic growth to seven
percent has run into soaring global costs for oil and
other commodities.
"I don't custom poker cards he is reviving the economy and consumer prices are
rising sharply," said office worker Choi Won, who attended an
anti-government rally under rainy skies Tuesday night.
The conservative Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's largest newspaper, said
that Lee must act quickly to salvage the remaining 1,700 days of
his presidency.
"He has no choice but to make a bold decision to change the state of
affairs by humbly reflecting on his mistakes and coldly analyzing the
factors that pushed him and his administration to this point," the
paper said in an editorial.
__
Associated Press writers Jae-soon Chang, Kwang-tae Kim and Jae-hyun
Jeong contributed to this report.
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