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New South Korean president under fire over handling of U.S. beefSEOUL, South Korea (AP)--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 for a smooth five-year term. But a misreading of the public mood over an emotive issue--U.S. beef imports--has sent Lee's approval ratings nosediving, leaving him caught between a promise to a key ally and the wrath of his own people. After weeks of protests, the government announced June 3--Lee's 100th day in office--that it was backing away, at least for now, from an agreement to resume 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. Though Lee's margin 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 June 3 showed that his support 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 Korea would resume imports of American beef, banned over fears of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. 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 May 31 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 his handling of the beef deal. Protests escalated. The decision by Lee's government to postpone implementing the agreement is likely to raise hackles among members 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 June 3. Lee's sudden fall from grace is all the more stunning given his legendary status in South Korea as a can-do businessman--known as "The Bulldozer"--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 city of over 10 million people more 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 think 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 June 3. 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.
Date: 6/11/08
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