ID :
19579
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 15:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19579
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President Lee`s brother to lead Korea-Japan lawmakers' group
SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- A senior ruling party lawmaker who is also the elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak has been named to co-chair a group of Korean and Japanese legislators, officials here said Monday.
Established in 1972, the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union has been working on promoting friendship among lawmakers and supporting their respective government's diplomacy toward the other.
The group is considered pivotal as ties are strained between Seoul and Tokyo after Japan's renewed claim in July over the South Korean islets of Dokdo, located in the East Sea. It was the first time for Japan to raise the longstanding issue since the launch of the conservative Lee administration in February.
"Rep. Lee Sang-deuk has been named as co-chairman of the union
recently," said ruling Grand National Party lawmaker Kim Tae-hwan, adding that Lee accepted the nomination earlier in the day.
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori currently heads the Japanese side.
"Many expect him to play an important role in thawing the relations between the two countries, especially on the issue of sovereignty over Dokdo."
Until Japan made its most recent claim over Dokdo, President Lee had made visible efforts to mend ties with the neighboring country, pledging to overlook Japan's brutal colonial rule of Korea from 1910-1945.
Many ruling party members consider Rep. Lee to be the best-suited for the position, given his close friendship with Japanese politicians, including former Prime Minister Mori. The senior lawmaker had also visited Tokyo in January as the president's special envoy.
Lee, however, is not the most popular politician domestically, especially after he was accused of peddling influence in the nomination of ruling party candidates for the April parliamentary elections.
Ignoring demands that he withdraw his candidacy, Lee ran for a sixth term in parliament to represent his hometown in the southeastern province of Gyeongsang, sparking allegations of nepotism and regionalism.
Lee has been striving to distance himself from key roles in the party ever since, apparently aware of the lingering criticism.
Lee will be taking over the post from opposition lawmaker Moon Hee-sang. It has been a custom for ruling party lawmakers to head the bilateral group.
Established in 1972, the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union has been working on promoting friendship among lawmakers and supporting their respective government's diplomacy toward the other.
The group is considered pivotal as ties are strained between Seoul and Tokyo after Japan's renewed claim in July over the South Korean islets of Dokdo, located in the East Sea. It was the first time for Japan to raise the longstanding issue since the launch of the conservative Lee administration in February.
"Rep. Lee Sang-deuk has been named as co-chairman of the union
recently," said ruling Grand National Party lawmaker Kim Tae-hwan, adding that Lee accepted the nomination earlier in the day.
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori currently heads the Japanese side.
"Many expect him to play an important role in thawing the relations between the two countries, especially on the issue of sovereignty over Dokdo."
Until Japan made its most recent claim over Dokdo, President Lee had made visible efforts to mend ties with the neighboring country, pledging to overlook Japan's brutal colonial rule of Korea from 1910-1945.
Many ruling party members consider Rep. Lee to be the best-suited for the position, given his close friendship with Japanese politicians, including former Prime Minister Mori. The senior lawmaker had also visited Tokyo in January as the president's special envoy.
Lee, however, is not the most popular politician domestically, especially after he was accused of peddling influence in the nomination of ruling party candidates for the April parliamentary elections.
Ignoring demands that he withdraw his candidacy, Lee ran for a sixth term in parliament to represent his hometown in the southeastern province of Gyeongsang, sparking allegations of nepotism and regionalism.
Lee has been striving to distance himself from key roles in the party ever since, apparently aware of the lingering criticism.
Lee will be taking over the post from opposition lawmaker Moon Hee-sang. It has been a custom for ruling party lawmakers to head the bilateral group.
