ID :
37168
Tue, 12/23/2008 - 16:33
Auther :
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http://m.oananews.org//node/37168
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Lee set to get tough with leftist forces: Cheong Wa Dae By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak is determined to crack down on intensifying ideological provocation by domestic left-leaning forces, viewing it as a threat to South Korea's national identity, presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan told reporters Tuesday.
"President Lee is concerned that the constitutional values of the Republic of
Korea are increasingly challenged by leftist forces seeking to promote anti-U.S.,
pro-North Korea and anti-market viewpoints across society," said the spokesman,
referring to President Lee's statement on Tuesday that the national identity has
been under attack.
The president, while meeting with his political supporters at the presidential
office, Cheong Wa Dae, on Tuesday night, reportedly stressed the need to firmly
establish the national identity after warning of growing ideological challenges
from political supporters of the two previous liberal governments led by Kim
Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.
"The current circumstances are serious as the national identity has been
seriously undermined. Lots of things that are unthinkable in a free democratic
state are actually taking place in front of us," President Lee was quoted by one
of the participants as saying at the unofficial meeting.
"I believe that the national identity problems have largely originated from the
past decade (of liberal rule)."
Political watchers speculated that Lee made the remark out of his deepening sense
of crisis, as left-leaning forces have blindly opposed all his major state,
diplomatic and reform policies throughout the past year.
President Lee has indeed warned that some reform-resistant bureaucrats, who were
promoted during the previous liberal administrations, are still passive in
enforcing his reform and stimulus measures.
Over the past week, all "Grade One" officials at half a dozen ministries --
including education, foreign affairs, agriculture and unification -- have offered
to resign as the conservative Lee administration strives to further distance
itself from policies devised by his liberal predecessors.
Asked to elaborate on the president's remarks in his daily media briefing,
presidential spokesman Lee conveyed parts of the president's concern about the
leftist camp's ideological provocation.
"The left-leaning activists have attempted to distort the meaning of the founding
of the Republic of Korea and teach anti-U.S., pro-North Korea and anti-market
viewpoints to children," said the spokesman. The Republic of Korea is South
Korea's official name.
"They also see violent demonstrators' illegal assaults on police riot troops from
the perspective of human rights violations. The government intends to establish
the national identity by restoring the rule of law and revising left-leaning
history books in the first place," said the spokesman.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
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"President Lee is concerned that the constitutional values of the Republic of
Korea are increasingly challenged by leftist forces seeking to promote anti-U.S.,
pro-North Korea and anti-market viewpoints across society," said the spokesman,
referring to President Lee's statement on Tuesday that the national identity has
been under attack.
The president, while meeting with his political supporters at the presidential
office, Cheong Wa Dae, on Tuesday night, reportedly stressed the need to firmly
establish the national identity after warning of growing ideological challenges
from political supporters of the two previous liberal governments led by Kim
Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.
"The current circumstances are serious as the national identity has been
seriously undermined. Lots of things that are unthinkable in a free democratic
state are actually taking place in front of us," President Lee was quoted by one
of the participants as saying at the unofficial meeting.
"I believe that the national identity problems have largely originated from the
past decade (of liberal rule)."
Political watchers speculated that Lee made the remark out of his deepening sense
of crisis, as left-leaning forces have blindly opposed all his major state,
diplomatic and reform policies throughout the past year.
President Lee has indeed warned that some reform-resistant bureaucrats, who were
promoted during the previous liberal administrations, are still passive in
enforcing his reform and stimulus measures.
Over the past week, all "Grade One" officials at half a dozen ministries --
including education, foreign affairs, agriculture and unification -- have offered
to resign as the conservative Lee administration strives to further distance
itself from policies devised by his liberal predecessors.
Asked to elaborate on the president's remarks in his daily media briefing,
presidential spokesman Lee conveyed parts of the president's concern about the
leftist camp's ideological provocation.
"The left-leaning activists have attempted to distort the meaning of the founding
of the Republic of Korea and teach anti-U.S., pro-North Korea and anti-market
viewpoints to children," said the spokesman. The Republic of Korea is South
Korea's official name.
"They also see violent demonstrators' illegal assaults on police riot troops from
the perspective of human rights violations. The government intends to establish
the national identity by restoring the rule of law and revising left-leaning
history books in the first place," said the spokesman.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
Download this as a file
