Opposition party grades Kim gov¡¯t

The opposition Grand National Party on August 24 released a 250-page declaration assessing the two and half years of the President Kim Dae-Jung Administration and declared it a "failed government on the whole." Excerpts from the declaration:

Grade of C for inter-Korean relationship:

The drawing of the Joint Declaration through the inter-Korean Summit and the dramatic reunions of parents and children living across the border can be considered preludes to reunification. However, even as the South repatriates unconverted long-term prisoners to the North, the South Korean government has not even been able to submit for negotiations on the issues of the prisoners of war and those abducted by the North. The current administration has lost all initiatives with the North and has been dragged around without principles, only being focused on short-term goals during the administration¡¯s term. Finding North Korea as a hurdle, the South¡¯s government must not let it become a stumbling block in its responsibility toward the economic management of the country.

IMF recovery is fiction:

Under the foreign currency crisis recovery, there has been an extreme economic polarization between various levels of society and regions, as well as sell-off of various lucrative domestic companies to companies abroad. The IMF economic recovery is a fiction. With the four-pronged reform in the areas of finance, business, public institutions and labor being mere superficial reforms, there has been a spread of moral degeneration among the main economic movers. In addition, as the government has been inconsistent in its policies, financial instability has been drawn out, and many fear that a second economic crisis looms.

Political reform receives worst grade:

In the area of governance, the administration has continued oppression of human rights and democracy through its suppression and meddling in the news media, the indiscriminate bank account investigations including that of the opposition party`s support committee and privacy violations through planting bugs. In various elections, the administration has flexed its financial and governmental authority and has adopted a line in its investigation of election irregularities, "ruling party members are innocent, opposition guilty," shaking the very roots and meaning of the laws, and have been oppressing the opposition party.

Disgraceful foreign diplomacy:

The Korea-Japan and Korea-China fishery accords have in a sense handed over many of our prime fishing waters to Japan and China. The government has not even mentioned the forced returns of the North`s escapees in China. (Concerning the opening of Korea`s door to Japan`s pop culture and moral issues) It is difficult to see which country`s interests this administration is working for. The administration stood motionless even as anti-Americanism reared its head and the Korea-U.S. discord has risen to the surface.

Public welfare, a non-reform:

The lack of preparation and inability of the government has led to great damage to the Korean people due to such tragedies as the medical crisis. Under the headline of educational reform, the government has caused a loss of authority among educators in their own classrooms, leading to an education panic. The administration also has lifted the ban on high-priced private tutors, fanning the gulf between the have`s and the have-not`s, and through its negligence of the various regional construction projects, it has given tacit approval of environmental destruction.