Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cazzy3]

this guy can't catch a break! granted that some of his policies are somewhat controversial (all english schools), but his big three ideas/policies have all been completely dismissed by the public (x-country canal, US beef fiasco included.

he's only been in office a few months after an election he won quite easily and now he's on the verge of being thrown out of office. to make things worse, today marks the 6th anniversary of those girls who were killed by a US military vehicle...just what he needs- more anti-american sentiment and a reason for the people to get riled up.

if only it was a world cup year like 2002 then all the attention could be shifted toward supporting the soccer team!!

[marlow]

He got elected to do a job, and I don't really feel he hid his agenda during the election, so yeah I feel bad for him.

The stuff he said about education made pretty good sense, but pissed off teachers. Since I judge many Korean English teachers unqualified for their job, I side with him and see the teachers' bitterness as fear.

[mateomiguel]

I supported most of his moves, and I still do. The guy's got a good head on his shoulders.

But 100,000 people in City Hall don't.

[talltony4]

interesting theory about his election in today's Korea Herald.

The author said that a lot of the web posts by anti-Lee activists were removed under a stricter electioneering law. Add that to concern about the economy and the guy got elected, albeit with a low turnout.

Since then the activists have had to voice their displeasure on the street.

I don't feel sorry for him though, let's tick off his dumb moves...

1. A cabinet full of billionaires. Lots of whom were prominent property speculators and/or dodgy businessmen

2. Telling Bush he was the CEO of korea.

3. "forgetting" about the unpopular cross-country canal during parliamentary elections, then remembering it right after

4. Not taking the concern about mad-cow seriously

5. Planning the sale of state assets (this one is ideological I suppose, but I think the idea that private can do it better than public is a pretty extreme view these days)

Nup. the guy is an idiot. When Seoul city can no longer afford to pump water through the cheongaechoen his supporters in Seoul will see that too

[kiwiduncan]

LMBs plans to build the "Dubai of North East Asia" at Saemangeum, the Grand canal, a huge artificial island at the mouth of the Han river and various other short-sighted and destructive projects show that he is blind, crusty old dinosaur with no genuine interest in Korea's long-term sustainability.

[Lekker]

Dude is dumber than and lacking more logic than Bush. Plus he makes decisions in haste without thinking. I don't feel bad for him at all. Then again, the way the elections went, I am not surprised. How long did they all have to campaign?

[Scouse Mouse]

I think he is a shit, but he is a shit with a plan. He is morally dubious, and in any other country in the world I would consider him a liability. For Korea however, he is perfect.

He has the vision to move Korea forward and place the country in a good position to expand further. He seems to be concentrating on making Korea a place that welcomes foreign investment, and welcomes foreign nationals who want to spend time in the country.

At the moment, the biggest obstacle to further progress in Korea is the backwards looking nationalism that mistrusts all things foreign. The President seems to realise this, and he is working to change conditions in Korea so that the institutions (if not the people) are more welcoming to foreigners.

He understands that Korea is an exporting nation, and has been successful at exporting good because labour costs are low. The problem with that is, as people get richer, they want to get richer! Wages will rise along with the cost of living, and Korean goods will not be as attractive overseas when this happens. The easiest way to slow inflation, increase the quality of life in Korea, and to help Korean goods compete when labour costs are rising, is to promote free trade agreements that relax the tarrifs on Korean goods in its key markets.

He is trying hard to move Korea forward. The Korean people who voted for him and his policies want Korea to move forward. Unfortunately, these same people are their own worst enemies, and seem determined to stop him at every step. They are blaming him for doing exactly what he said, yet if he stops because of the protests, he will be blamed for not doing anything he promised at the end of his term. Damned if he does.....

Thankfully, it looks as though he doesn't really care what people think of him NOW. His goal is something that popular opinion of the time can never give him. He wants a legacy. He wants people to know his name long after he has left, and he is trying to gain that by moving Korea into the next phase of growth, which is a good thing. It seems his backup is to leave a permanant imprint on the country in the shape of canals, islands, and other projects that seem more about his ego than about the country.

[RJjr]

I like Lee and wish he was America's leader instead of South Korea's. Lee is too visionary for a Korea that doesn't want to change with the times, and I would give anything for America to have a leader that gives a phuck about infrastructure development and increasing exports instead of the clown show we have.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

[crusher_of_heads]

No-he knew he was becoming president of the backwardsjackass hub of Asia long before the election.

[kiwiduncan]

[talltony4]

I think the major point of disagreement for greenies is the narrow definition of progress/economic growth.

Just cos the economy is growing, doesn't mean that things are getting better!

The "rising tide floats all boats"/trickledown theory has been discredited. long ago.

Mr. Shankly, I think you should remember the low turnout. "massive margin" is a bit strong

[SHANE02]

[marlow]

Low election turnout or not, he's president. Those are the rules. People had their chance, and more of those who did vote voted for him. End of story.

Backing down on things he is entitled to do--like negotiate about beef--just because a bunch of people protest, would be weak.

[kiwiliz]

Sure, he had a landslide victory, but in an election that had the lowest voter turn-out in a generation. [/quote]

Irrelevant.
If people didn't want him in they should have gone out and voted for the other fellow.
They didn't.
so in effect they got what they voted for..