A Country in Blackout, by Kang Chun-suk Discontent Growing as Gov't Marks 100 Days in Office Lee Pledges to Win U.S. Guarantee on Beef Shipments Senior Figures Advise Lee on Presidency Lee's Approval Rating Plummets to 21 Percent Lee Must Seize the Moment, by Kim Dae-joong

① Can he regain public support?

Lee's approval rating has plummeted below 30 percent range, which means that many of those who voted for him in the presidential election turned their back on him. The first challenge is how his former supporters will react to the apology from a president who has been in office for less than three months.

Presidential officials expect Lee's traditional supporters to sympathize with the president, and believe that he promised to do better in the future or has done his best.

But how much of people's anxiety about mad cow disease will be eased? A presidential official said, "Public opinion can turn in favor of U.S. beef imports if it is imported and distributed without causing any problems." But public sentiment can worsen any time if incidents should occur to substantiate the fears.

A TV on display at a store in Yongsan Electronics Market in Seoul shows President Lee Myung-bak offering a public apology for the recent U.S. beef furor and urging the quick ratification of the Korea-U.S. FTA at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday morning.

② Will the presidential leadership style change?

Lee took the whole blame for the mistakes the government has made in its early days. The second challenge is for Lee to change his leadership style.

A Grand National Party lawmaker says the president “needs to show political and coordination capabilities as befits the chief executive, rather than demonstrating a mere corporate-CEO-style leadership. The basic principle of such a presidential leadership is engagement and tolerance."

Lee will have to accept former GNP chairwoman Park Geun-hye, with her substantial traditionalist support base, as his partner in government and attempt to seek cooperation with the opposition, which he has failed to engage during the current parliament.

③ Does he have any cards up his sleeve?

The Cheong Wa Dae official says in his apology, Lee did not offer any new content capable of turning the tables in the current political situation.

But in an address he will deliver at the opening ceremony of the 18th National Assembly on June 5, Lee is expected to present several new ideas for the future of the country.

A key Cheong Wa Dae official said it is “too early” to talk about this in detail. A government source would only say that a reform plan for public corporations will be presented as the top priority on the government agenda.

④ Can he quell demands for a Cabinet reshuffle?

On Thursday, Lee said the incident has spurred the government to renew its determination. The official said Lee believes that this is “not the proper time” to call Cabinet members and senior presidential secretaries to account, although reshuffles “may come when it is possible to evaluate them properly some time in the future."

He dismissed calls from opposition parties and some GNP members to replacing some Cabinet members and senior presidential secretaries over a series of recent blunders. But it remains to be seen whether it is possible to resolve problems in the government without drastic action.

⑤ Can the Korea-U.S. FTA be ratified?

Lee made it clear he is giving top priority to ratification of the Korea-U.S. FTA during the forthcoming 18th National Assembly, if it cannot be ratified during the current session. The ruling GNP will have the advantage of numbers in the next parliament.

But it may face a rough road ahead again if the opposition parties gain momentum in their opposition to ratification due to thorny issues between Korea and the U.S., including sharing of the upkeep of the U.S. Forces Korea that are expected to flare up in the second half of the year.

(englishnews@chosun.com )

The following is the full text of President Lee Myung-bak's statement in a live TV broadcast at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday to address the resumption of U.S. beef imports and ratification of the Korea-U.S. FTA./Courtesy of the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOIS)

It has been almost three months since I was inaugurated as President. During that period, I have been working hard to live up to the aspirations of the entire Korean people with the idea that, “The economy must be revived without fail.” I have been striving all along with the sheer determination that I would lose no time in making Korea an advanced country we can all be proud of and one where ordinary citizens will be better off.

I understand, however, that many people are now concerned about the way the new Administration is dealing with state affairs. The Government has been intent on devising measures to support cattle farms that are likely to suffer difficulties because of the resumption of U.S. beef imports. But, to be honest, the Government was baffled by the spread of unfounded rumors about mad cow disease. Among other things, my heart ached when I saw even young students come out to stage candlelight vigils at the very Cheonggyecheon Plaza, which I worked with all my heart, mind and soul to restore. Their parents must have worried so much about them.

I admit that the Government has been lacking in efforts to sound out public opinion and try to seek people's understanding. I also humbly accept the criticism that I have been negligent in carefully reading the public's mind. I very much regret all this.

Distinguished citizens,

The Government has an unwavering policy in place. Public health can never be compromised under any circumstance. After additional consultations with the U.S. Government, the Korean Government was able to secure a document that guarantees that the safety of beef to be imported will be in compliance with international standards and that the quality of beef will be the same as that consumed by Americans. It is also stipulated in the document that the Korean Government will take sovereign measures to halt beef imports immediately if any situation endangering public health occurs. Taking this opportunity, the Government will work out all possible measures to enhance food safety to the level of advanced countries.

Over the past 10 years, the global economy has enjoyed an unprecedented boom, but Korea has failed to go with the current of the times. Consequently, some competing countries are coming up right behind us, and the gaps with the advanced countries are growing wider. Now, we are at a critical juncture. If we now fail to join the ranks of advanced countries, we might never have another chance. Korea now stands at a crossroads of historical significance?whether it can rise to the rank of advanced countries or not.

Today, the global economy is faced with the biggest crisis since the oil shock of the 1970s. The price of oil, food and raw materials is skyrocketing. To make matters worse, the price hikes are coupled with the U.S. financial crisis. Soaring commodity prices and unemployment are weighing heavily on many people of the world. We are not an exception to this global phenomenon. Now is high time for us to strengthen the economic fundamentals of our country and make watertight preparations to turn this crisis into an opportunity as early as possible.

More than 70 percent of the Korean economy depends on foreign trade. The Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement no doubt constitutes a new way out for the Korean economy. The accord will help increase exports and foreign investment as well as national income. First and foremost, the KORUS FTA will create over 300,000 new jobs. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity for the desperate young job seekers in particular.

We need to secure better trade conditions than our competitors in the United States, the biggest market in the world. And the KORUS FTA is the answer. Of course, some sectors like agriculture are likely to undergo difficulties. For them, the Government has already prepared comprehensive support measures. If necessary, we will work out other follow-up measures.

The KORUS FTA is a very valuable fruit that the previous Administration and the incumbent 17th National Assembly achieved overcoming various difficulties. It represents a national task that the Korean people reached a consensus on, as they believed it was required more than anything else for the country to have a new growth engine.

The United States may be able to ratify it and readily make it into law, but Korea has to pass 24 different pieces of legislation as follow-up measures. That is why the country has to move more expeditiously than the United States. The 17th National Assembly has already deliberated on the FTA 59 times. There have also been a number of public and parliamentary hearings.

That is why I requested the National Assembly to convene the current May session. I appreciate the fact that the ruling and opposition members of the incumbent National Assembly opened the session at the end of its term in an extraordinary manner. As the current session will soon expire, however, I earnestly urge the legislature to transcend partisan differences and make a resolute determination for the enhancement of the standard of living and in the national interest. When the 17th National Assembly ratifies the KORUS FTA in a bipartisan consensus, it will be recorded as a great accomplishment in Korean political history.

My fellow citizens,

The Government will promise to be more humble in approaching the needs of the people. I take responsibility for all the deficiencies that the Administration has incurred in its initial months. On this occasion, the Administration and I pledge to go about doing business in a more careful manner and see to it that the economy will make a turn-around and create more jobs.

Let us all get united as one and march together. When we join forces, we can overcome hardships more quickly than any other country. Let us have confidence that we can certainly tide over any type of difficulties and build up an advanced leading nation. Let us all join hands and forge ahead to construct a prosperous nation, compassionate society and strong Republic. We can do it without fail.

Thank you very much.