“Prime Minister Lee’s Wild Remarks are Not a Reason for His Dismissal”

Yesterday, Cheong Wa Dae spurned the GNP’s request to remove Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan for disparaging the party, stating, “Prime Minister Lee’s remarks do not fall under the reasons for dismissal.”

In the daily issue review conference chaired by Chief of Presidential Secretary Kim Oo-shik yesterday morning, the Cheong Wa Dae summed up its position, “The remark of Prime Minister Lee, who is a five-time representative, is an expression of his political perception. Thus, it can be a politically controversial issue in the National Assembly, but it was not seen as a reason for his removal.”

Spokesman Kim Jong-min of Cheong Wa Dae conveyed, “We have agreed to stick to the principle that it is not appropriate for Cheong Wa Dae to react to every single political aggression which does not conform to policy-related discussions, not only on this occasion but in the future as well.”

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com