It is hard to imagine that using a moniker such as the "Shadow of Roh" would be a positive thing but South Korean politics can be difficult to understand. But it is a clear indication that if Moon is elected then we will see a return to the soft line Sunshine Policy which is exactly what the north wants (and needs to ensure its survival).
Although I do not agree with a single 5 year term, one nice thing about the South Korean political system is how short is the official campaign period. It is the month before the election and the candidates are just now registering to declare themselves officially as candidates for office. Sure we be nice if we adopted such a short official campaign period. After listening to some of the talks shows and news reports this weekend I think the 2016 US Presidential campaign is already underway.
V/R
Dave
"Shadow of Roh" neck and neck with dictator's daughter before South Korea polls
Ju-min Park and David Chance
Reuters
3:14 p.m. CST, November 25, 2012
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's December presidential election looks set to turn into a referendum on two of the country's most polarizing leaders as the daughter of military dictator Park Chung-hee faces off against a former aide to ex-President Roh Moo-hyun.
Park's authoritarian rule propelled South Korea from poverty to the cusp of developed-nation status and ended when he was assassinated in 1979. The left-wing Roh's single five-year term closed in chaos as economic reforms failed and a policy of engagement with North Korea was wrecked as Pyongyang pushed ahead with a nuclear weapons program.
Roh committed suicide in 2010 after bribery charges dogged his retirement.
The conservative candidate, Park Geun-hye, 60, who is bidding to become South Korea's first woman president, and left-winger Moon Jae-in, 59, formally registered their candidacies on Sunday after independent Ahn Cheol-soo dropped out to support Moon.
(Continued at the link below)
No comments:
Post a Comment