By Kang Hyun-kyung
Independent Ahn Cheol-soo, Friday called for the resumption of Mt. Geumgang tourism, which has been halted since July 2008, proposing that the two Koreas need to open contact with each other.
During a meeting with residents of the border town of Goseong, Gangwon Province, Ahn said South Korea’s resumption of talks would help ease tensions and revitalize the local economy.
“If the two Koreas are to sit down, they will need to discuss ways to prevent a recurrence of the killing of a South Korean tourist in July 2008 near the resort area,” the software millionaire- turned-presidential candidate said.
“If the North promises to make its own efforts to prevent such a tragedy, South Korea should agree on the resumption of tourism.” The local economy flourished while tourism was operating.
Residents of the town near the military demarcation line earned income through their businesses dealing with tourists such as eateries and other tourism-related facilities. After it was halted, most of them went bankrupt.
They are the victims of the souring of inter-Korean relations after President Lee Myung-bak took power in February 2008.
Meanwhile, Ahn’s rivals embarked on campaigns on the occasion of Police Day (Friday) to woo voters concerned about public security after a series of heinous crimes.
Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party unveiled a plan to hire an additional 20,000 police officers to handle child and sex crimes. But she declined to address her position on the jurisdiction friction between police and the prosecution.
Unveiling a set of measures for security at the party’s headquarters in Seoul, Park vowed to make the nation safer.
“Under the plan, parents will have no worries about the safety of their school children when they go to school or return home.
Women can walk down streets late at night without a fear of being victimized by sex crimes and people of all walks of life can feel safe,” she said.
Park pledged to hire 4,000 police officers every year for five years, and said she would guarantee the two-year term of the head of the National Police Agency so that those in the position can push their initiatives regardless of government changes.
The presidential candidate, however, walked a fine line on the friction between prosecutors and police officers. The latter sought to gain the right to investigate criminal cases from prosecutors. Under the current system, prosecutors dominate investigations while police officers follow their guidelines.
This has surfaced as a key campaign issue during presidential elections. Due to stalwart opposition from prosecutors, few candidates confront the issue.
Park said broadly that she would alter the current system so that police can balance the power of prosecutors, declining to give specifics.
Rep. Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic United Party said he appreciated police officers’ hard work, despite poor working conditions, during a visit to a police station in central Seoul.