PM Says Disagreeing With U.S. Is OK

Following the controversy over President Roh Moo-hyun’s support for the remarks of Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, who said on Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting, “The U.S. (policy on North Korea) was a great failure,” Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook is also creating a stir by saying on Thursday, “We can raise dissenting voices against the U.S.”

Prime Minister Han, who had a press conference in celebration of her 100th day in her new post, was asked her opinion on President Roh’s support of Minister Lee’s remarks.

“I don’t believe the U.S.-South Korea alliance will be broken or have a setback because we speak out with our own voice. A healthy partnership can be better achieved when we raise our voices but stick together (with the U.S.) on major issues,” Han said.

“U.S. President George W. Bush administration’s diplomatic and security policies are also confronting strong criticism among its own people. I believe we can raise our dissenting voices against the U.S. when the peace and security on the Korean peninsula is threatened,” Han added.

With regard to the July 26 parliamentary by-elections in which the ruling Uri Party was completely defeated, she said, “There will be opportunities to reverse the situation before the presidential elections next year. The by-elections were held at a time when the Uri Party hadn’t had enough time to recover and prepare for a new card from May 31 local elections. I cannot give you the details, but I can at least say that the Uri Party will not just give it up without trying to reverse the situation.”

On the issue regarding the revision of the constitution, Han said, “I think the constitution should be amended at least on two issues: differences on dates between the general elections and presidential elections and changing the president`s single five-year term to a maximum of two four-year terms.”

When asked if she thinks of herself as a responsible and influential prime minister like her predecessor Lee Hae-chan, she emphasized, “When the media and many of the people talk about a female prime minister, they think a female prime minister is an ‘Eolgul Madam,’ a show-off thing. That is our culture. But President Roh also said he will support the Prime Minister’s leadership roles, and I am doing my best to fit myself in that role. Saying the term Eolgul Madam itself is sexual discrimination, which degrades a female prime minister,” Han said.

Chin-Ku Lee sys1201@donga.com