1st Lee-Bush Summit Could Involve Golf

The first summit between President-elect Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President George W. Bush could involve golf.

Both nations are reviewing holding the first summit between the two leaders, which is expected in early March or after the April general elections, in a friendly atmosphere. One idea is to have them play a round of golf, something which reportedly came up in their first phone call Dec. 20.

One official said, “Talking about golf broke the ice in that call.”

Lee began the phone conversation by saying, “How is it going on the golf course? Why don’t we play a round when I visit the U.S.?”

President Bush expressed a lack of confidence in taking on a Korean golfer, saying Lee must be as good as Korean women professionals playing in LPGA tournaments. He added he would probably lose against Lee.

Given the time needed to play a round of golf and the fact that Lee rarely plays golf now, the summit could instead include a golf event such as inviting a Korean golfer.

The White House, the U.S. presidential retreat of Camp David, Maryland, and the Crawford ranch in Texas have all been mentioned as the likely venue for the summit. The ranch is known as a diplomatic venue where President Bush invites close guests to show their friendship, as is Camp David.

The American leader invited former Japanese prime ministers Junichiro Koizumi in June 2001 and Shinzo Abe in April last year to Camp David on their first visits to the U.S. as head of their country.

Shortly before the 2005 Korea-U.S. summit, the White House unofficially invited President Roh Moo-hyun to the Crawford ranch to express gratitude for Korean military support in Iraq. Several of Roh’s aides opposed the offer, however. Seoul later recognized the true intention of the invitation and reversed its decision, but Washington rejected the change of heart in the end.

Report say President Bush has an unprecedented level of interest and expectations for Korea’s new administration.

In September last year, he expressed a willingness to meet then presidential candidate Lee in an interview. Though President Bush did plan an off-the-record rendezvous with Lee, the idea was called off when Lee made the plan public.

A White House official said then that President Bush apparently wanted to express his displeasure towards the Roh administration. Lee’s status as a former business executive and a devout Christian has also left a good impression on Bush.

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