The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, August 18, 2022 | 19:24
-------------------------
Drive to discredit Lee likely to prevail
Posted : 2012-04-11 23:13
Updated : 2012-04-11 23:13
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

President Lee Myung-bak and his wife Kim Yoon-ok cast their ballots at a Seoul polling station in parliamentary elections, Wednesday. / Korea Times
By Kang Hyun-kyung

There is no mercy for the sitting president. Analysts Wednesday predicted that President Lee Myung-bak will have to weather harsh times in the post-election season as presidential hopefuls are set to attack him to rally support from the public.

In the post-election season, contenders, especially in the ruling camp, will try to distance themselves from the unpopular President as the clock is ticking toward the presidential election slated for December.

Analysts say Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party, an unrivaled contender in the conservative camp, will be no exception.

Hong Sung-gul, a professor of public policy at Kookmin University in Seoul, said it is natural that presidential hopefuls will steal the show in the wake of the parliamentary elections.

“Lee has only 10 months left in office and the tight political schedule for the presidential race in December will allow contenders to assail Lee vehemently in order to garner support from the public,” he said.

Political scientists forecast that both the ruling and opposition parties would be no different in terms of their position on Lee.

But the scope and intensity of their attack of the lame duck President will vary.

Earlier, the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) pledged drives to reverse major national agendas, such as the free trade agreement with the United States and the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island, if they take power.

Considering this, the liberal party will likely ratchet up the pressure on Lee over these agendas if it wins a majority in the parliamentary elections.

The ruling Saenuri Party has taken a different path over the above projects, denouncing the DUP for switching its position on agendas that were closely related to national interests.

Despite the differences over those initiatives, analysts say, the two sides will be on the same page with regard to the spying scandal and corruption rows involving President Lee’s aides and relatives.

Hong said these scandals would make the headlines again in the post-election season as parties and their presidential candidates will endeavor to politicize those issues.

Park called for zero-tolerance for corruption and therefore is likely to continue to stand firm against the scandals.

Contenders from the DUP could opt for independent counsel to investigate the government’s illegal surveillance of civilians thoroughly or call for hearings on the corruption rows.

Hahm Sung-deuk, professor of political science at Korea University in Seoul, said the President is unlikely to find an outlet as few will side with the unpopular leader.

“Lee needs deputies who have political acumen. I am wondering if he really has any though,” he said. “No wonder Lee will find himself a lame duck President and that the situation will be exacerbated as his presidency heads to its end point.”

In previous governments, sitting presidents’ positions weakened later in their presidencies as the presidential polls neared.

Rep. Chung Dong-young of the DUP distanced himself from the late former President Roh Moo-hyun when he was chosen as a presidential candidate for the liberal side in 2007.

Chung was critical of Roh to garner support from liberals and moderates who opposed the then lame duck President.

Hong said among others, the surveillance scandal is a big one and therefore will resurface as a major issue.

“What Lee has to do is try to confront it as it is, not try to play it down or cover it up,” the political scientist said.

Meanwhile, campaign watchers said a party that garners 140 or more parliamentary seats out of the 300-member legislature would be declared the winner.

Campaign strategists of the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition DUP were wary of the turnout rate.

Conventional election wisdom says a low turnout is a good sign for the ruling party as its traditional supporters are elderly and conservative voters who tend to head to polling stations, even in bad weather.
Emailhkang@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Samsung's defective washing machine fans consumer concerns
  • Korea urged to overhaul pension, tax systems to cope with rapidly-aging population
  • [INTERVIEW] Moon rallies int'l support for unification of two Koreas
  • Yoon confident about Korea hosting World Expo 2030
  • 'Labor law should be changed in line with Fourth Industrial Revolution'
  • Standard Chartered Bank chief to visit Seoul in late August
  • Yoon opposes forceful change to status quo in North Korea
  • Envoy raises awareness of Korea among Serbian public
  • [INTERVIEW] Data essential for 'evidence-based decisions': Statistics Korea commissioner
  • What polls don't say about Yoon
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • [INTERVIEW] Director of 'A Model Family' on blending Korean and European-style thrillers [INTERVIEW] Director of 'A Model Family' on blending Korean and European-style thrillers
    • Thriller series 'Flower Of Evil' becomes first K-drama to be remade in India Thriller series 'Flower Of Evil' becomes first K-drama to be remade in India
    • 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' to be made into musicals in 2024 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' to be made into musicals in 2024
    • [INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures [INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures
    • 'Mukbang' binge-eating shows give way to new trend of eating little 'Mukbang' binge-eating shows give way to new trend of eating little
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group