The Presidency of Roh Moo-hyun (Feb 2003– )

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Few impressed by Roh’s diplomacy
By Jaewoo Choo, Asia Times, 10 June 2003. President Roh’s trip to the summit meeting with Japan is judged by Korean conservatives to have lacked goals and purposes. Even liberals are not happy with his policies concerning the Japanese perception of the history of the bilateral relationship, as the two leaders agreed to avoid the issue in their talks and to concentrate on those of mutual concern in the context of Northeast Asia.
Controversy hits education market opening
By Choe Yong-shik, The Korean Herald, 8 October 2003. The Education Ministry faces mounting protests in the wake of its recent decision to remove restrictions on foreign competition, while leaving other controversial issues in the sector unresolved. The government’s student database plan pitts it against the progressive nationwide teachers’ union.
S. Korean Leader Considers Vote on Ouster
By Christopher Torchia, AP, Washington Post, Saturday 11 October 2003. Facing widespread discontent, President Roh Moo-hyun said Saturday that he was considering a national referendum on whether he should resign, and rejected an offer from his Cabinet and presidential aides to quit.
Daily protests in Korea. . .against neoliberal policies and repression
Korean People’s Action against FTA & WTO (KoPA), 11 November 2003. Protests against liberalisation of services and agriculture, and against repression of workers have been taking place in Korea almost everyday during the last week.
Farmers Clash With Police During Anti-FTA Rallies
By Na Jeong-ju, Korea Times, 19 November 2003. Tens of thousands of farmers held a massive rally, slamming the government and the Assembly for trying to ratify the Korea-Chile FTA. They claimed the FTA will be a major setback to the nation’s agricultural industry, which is vulnerable to cheap farming products because the government preserves relatively high consumer prices in locally produced rice, barley and other crops.
South Korea goes into free fall
By Jamie Miyazaki, Asia Times, 6 December 2003. The Republic of Korea has quickly entered a period of political and economic free fall. Things started taking a turn for the worse nearly as soon as the World Soccer Cup euphoria had dissipated. And it became evident that the consumer credit-fueled recovery policy following the 1997 financial crisis had gotten out of hand. Matters were made worse by simmering labor disputes.