Opposition Refuses Offers for Presidential Envoy
By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
Rep. Jung Jang-seon of the opposition Democratic Party (DP), now the president of the Korea-Mongolia Parliamentarians Friendship Association, rejected President Lee Myung-bak's offer to attend the inauguration in June of the new Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj as his envoy.
Jung said Friday, "Cheong Wa Dae sent a formal request last June, I couldn't accept it," he said.
A member from the DP's leadership in anonymity added, "No parliamentary member from the opposition party has been appointed as presidential envoy.
If so, it could create political unease," indicating DP members won't accept offers of similar kind in the future.
Since he took over the presidency of the friendship association in 2005, he has led a group of parliamentary members to visit Mongolia and welcomed Mongolian parliamentary members in Seoul.
"He is fond of Mongolia," said a staff member at his office.
President Lee ended up sending Lee Sa-churl of the Grand National Party (GNP) to Mongolia.
An official from the presidential office called for cooperation from the DP, saying the President will continue to cross party lines in appointing special envoys.
Cheong Wa Dae also sent envoys to 10 ASEAN countries prior to the Korea-ASEAN Summit on Jeju island in June, but all were from the governing party.
This week, Cheong Wa Dae named Park Geun-hye, the former chairwoman of the GNP, as the presidential envoy to Europe, but it took almost six months for her to make up her mind.
She is the leader of the second largest faction in the governing camp.
Relations between President Lee and Park soured after their contest over the ruling party's nomination for presidential candidate in 2007.