Roh`s Administration Leaning toward Pragmatism

The administrative direction of the Participatory Government seems to become more pragmatic with President Roh`s decision to apply the new decentralizing administrative system.

It has been reported on August 13 that President Roh summoned Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young at the end of last month to explain his plans to have the prime minister be in charge of domestic affairs along with Economic Minister Lee Hun-jae on the economy, Minister Chung on foreign affairs and security issues, and Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Moon Jae-in and Health and Welfare Minister Kim Geun-tae on the social sector.

President Roh reportedly has expressed his will to focus on eradicating corruption, renovating the government, and other long-term national issues at the meeting.

Accordingly, the economic policy direction, which has been quite confusing with the questions about growth versus distribution and market versus government intervention, is expected to gear towards growth and the market with Deputy Prime Minister Lee.

Also, the president named Minister Chung to be the head of the standing committee of the National Security Council on August 13 to supervise foreign affairs and national security. As the central power of foreign affairs and security shifts toward Minister Chung from Assistant Director General Lee Jong-suk, a pragmatic scene may bring pro-independence and pro-alliance together.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Jong-min said that President Roh asked Minister Chung on July 31 to "take responsibility and initiative on issues regarding unification, foreign affairs, and security" at the Ministerial Meeting on Foreign Affairs and Security, and ordered the NSC secretariat to help the minister in succeeding and carrying on the responsibilities.

Spokesman Kim said, "The core substance of this instruction is to have the economy-related offices fortify their cooperative relations centering around the economic minister and deputy prime minister while the foreign affairs and security segment consolidate their consultation and coordinating efforts with the unification minister.”

Minister Chung is reportedly scheduled to visit the United States within this month at the earliest to meet with the core members of George W. Bush administration, including U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and many are anticipating what changes this visit will bring over the controversial ROK-U.S. relations.