Title is the Stranger in English, in Korean, the drama title is Secret Forest (as in you can't see the forest for the trees). The Stranger is a compelling drama series. Netflix with English subtitles.
This was my description of season one before the presidential election in South Korea:
I think with the 20/20 hindsight of having studied the corruption and political abuse of the administration of justice in South Korea in the last couple of years, the portrayal of that corruption, and the estrangement of any honest prosecutors from that system because they don’t “play ball,” in this 2017 drama is rather realistic. It’s just a microcosm of the much larger systemic abuses in the justice world in South Korea struggling to put their corrupt leader in power as president on March 9, 2022, to preserve their way of life at the public’s expense.
Season 2:
Even before I finished watching season 2, it was obvious that the character of Woo Tae-ha was based on the former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who is currently the president elect of South Korea. I know these dramas have the usual disclaimers about any resemblance to real characters or events are coincidental or non-intentional, but the character and his dialogue are what one might imagine. None of the events in the drama are related and are entirely fictional. The power struggle between police and prosecutors over investigative powers is a genuine major political issue in Korea politics.
Woo Tae-ha is played by Choi Moo-sung who also had a supporting role in Mr. Sunshine. His acting is excellent. His compelling performance in Noktu Flower, about the Korean Tong Hak rebellion is one of the best historical drama series I've ever seen.
The other actors in The Stranger are also outstanding. I posted this here rather than Asian group, because political comments are discouraged there. The investigation of crimes and the administration of justice in South Korea are totally political as depicted in The Stranger. Yoon's election ensures that the so called Republic of Lawyers is not over.
열린공감TV
열린공감TV
1 day ago March 12
다시한번 안내말씀 드립니다.
<열린공감TV>를 향한 저들의 각종 고발,고소 건 등에 대응할 정의롭고 역량있는 법조인을 기다립니다.
<열린공감TV>법률 자문 및 변호인단은 당장 구성해야할 정도로 도움이 필요한 부분입니다. 현직 변호사분들의 적극 참여가 절실히 필요합니다.
- 법률대응팀은 별도의 단톡방 운영 등으로 활동할 계획입니다.
- 사안별로 법률 자문 및 변호 수임 등 소정의 비용 지급 및 계약으로 무료법률 지원이 아닌 정당한 노동의 대가를 지불하겠습니다.
- <열린공감TV>로 고소.고발된 사건은 대 부분 정치적 사안이며 보도를 통한 내용에 대해 허위사실, 명예훼손, 가처분 등의 민.형사건 입니다. 현재까지는 몇몇 친분있는 정의로운 변호사분들이 도움을 주셔서 임기응변식으로 사건을 맡겼지만 이제는 좀 더 많은 공격이 예상되어 폭 넓은 변호사팀을 구성하고자 합니다.
- 현재까지 진행된 소송에서는 단 한번의 패소도 없었습니다.
- “변호사님, 도움이 필요합니다”
https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxBaF7DzN3Hsu8ummA1tbhDl1lobIS-8kI
Yoon is the worst thing to happen to South Korea since Chun Doo-hwan.
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Are there nutria in the rice field?
르 몽드 이것들이...콜걸이라고
(Source- Le Monde Mar 8)
Can Yoon sue/prosecute Le Monde?
(Source- Le Monde Mar 8)
Can Yoon sue/prosecute Le Monde?
Sunday, March 6, 2022
More evidence of Yoon's role in Hwacheon Daeyoo financial scandal investigation
Newstapa acquired the audio file of a conversation between Kim Man-bae, a key figure in the Daejang-dong case, with an acquaintance in September last year, just before the prosecution's investigation. While explaining the details of the Daejang-dong project in detail, Mr. Kim said, “The Busan Savings Bank case was resolved through Attorney Park Young-soo and Prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol at the time;" and "Because of the Mayor of Seongnam, the Daejang-dong enterprise experienced difficulties" (due to financial and construction demands made on behalf of the city by Lee Jae-myung that the investment group did not want to fulfill).*
Other recordings disclosed recently elsewhere on the internet show that Yoon and Park Young-soo, had been drinking buddies for over thirty years. God help the Korean people if Yoon Seok-yeol is elected president of South Korea.
*대장동 사건 핵심 인물인 김만배 씨가 검찰 수사 직전인 지난해 9월 지인과 나눈 대화 음성파일을 뉴스타파가 입수했습니다. 김 씨는 대장동 사업 진행 내용을 자세히 설명하면서 “박영수 변호사와 윤석열 당시 대검 중수부 검사를 통해 부산저축은행 사건을 해결했다”, “이재명 성남시장 때문에 대장동 사업에 어려움을 겪었다”고 말했습니다.
[김만배 음성파일] "박영수-윤석열 통해 부산저축은행 사건 해결" - 뉴스타파
Mar 6, 2022 Newstapa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrdLAL3AT78
And: “박영수-윤석열 통해 부산저축은행 사건 해결”
한상진 2022년 03월 06일 21시 22분
https://newstapa.org/article/ybGav
.
Other recordings disclosed recently elsewhere on the internet show that Yoon and Park Young-soo, had been drinking buddies for over thirty years. God help the Korean people if Yoon Seok-yeol is elected president of South Korea.
*대장동 사건 핵심 인물인 김만배 씨가 검찰 수사 직전인 지난해 9월 지인과 나눈 대화 음성파일을 뉴스타파가 입수했습니다. 김 씨는 대장동 사업 진행 내용을 자세히 설명하면서 “박영수 변호사와 윤석열 당시 대검 중수부 검사를 통해 부산저축은행 사건을 해결했다”, “이재명 성남시장 때문에 대장동 사업에 어려움을 겪었다”고 말했습니다.
[김만배 음성파일] "박영수-윤석열 통해 부산저축은행 사건 해결" - 뉴스타파
Mar 6, 2022 Newstapa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrdLAL3AT78
And: “박영수-윤석열 통해 부산저축은행 사건 해결”
한상진 2022년 03월 06일 21시 22분
https://newstapa.org/article/ybGav
.
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
In surprising turn around Yoon Seok-yeol reaches election unification agreement with Ahn Cheol-soo
A report from Seoul from Nikkei Asia today:
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/South-Korea-election/South-Korean-opposition-rivals-Ahn-and-Yoon-team-up-for-election
Bad news for democratic candidate Lee Jae-myung. Polls indicate that the race is within the margin of error. Ahn’s agreement to ally himself with Yoon makes it more difficult for Lee to win with final votes at the polls to occur March 9. Ahn’s agreement with Yoon, will probably add as much as four percent to Yoon’s margin. There was one KSOI poll which was an outlier showing Lee with an 8 percent advantage a couple of days ago. Other polls conceivably biased in Yoon’s favor showed Yoon with a one to four point advantage. No doubt Yoon’s advisers understood the automated poll’s biases, and were forced to meet Ahn’s terms which are not disclosed as yet, as far as I can tell.
This deal reflects poorly on Ahn, as evidence lately disclosed in investigative journalist reports show clear evidence of Yoon’s wife and mother in law participating in a stock manipulation scheme, (alleged to have occurred before Yoon formed a relationship with with his wife). The scheme was over ten years ago, but the circumstantial evidence suggests later prosecution manipulation of the investigation to keep Yoon’s wife out of prison. It is also alleged that this is part of a larger pattern of prosecution political corruption connected to Yoon.
My theory is that Ahn knows Yoon and his party are in deep trouble. If Yoon wins the presidential election, and massive opposition street politics return to South Korea, an impeachment later may work to Ahn’s political advantage. I’m hoping that the progressive candidate Lee wins against the new odds. No more polls allowed this close to election day.
Progressives in South Korea describe this race as democracy v. a return to authoritarian government by the corrupt special interests (dictatorship really), rather than a campaign over progressive v. conservative governance. It will be a sad and disappointing day in South Korea if Yoon wins. I think Yoon revealed his dominant and intolerant attitude in negotiations with Ahn before they reached this agreement at the eleventh hour. Yoon only conceded to Ahn’s terms because he is desperate to regain control of the judicial administration in South Korea to keep himself, his family and political mentors and cronies out of prison. If Yoon wins the election I predict he will marginalize Ahn no matter what his nominal position in the government. I’m sure Yoon’s followers in Japan and the US are overjoyed by the latest news. Yoon is clearly a fan of the Japanese and will completely reverse South Korea’s efforts to steer an independent foreign policy course based upon South Korean national interests.
March 6 Update: Early voting in South Korea is reported at 36 percent
This indicates voters are very motivated. Over 16 million votes were cast. Democratic party analysts believe that this will be in their favor. Late polls up to the Mar 3 cut off showed less than a one percent difference between the two major candidates. There are conflicting opinions about the impact of Ahn Cheol-soo dropping from the race in support of a so called conservative unity ticket. Less than a week before balloting began, Ahn declared that there would not be a unity ticket and negotiations were broken off. In fact, Ahn said at a rally that if one pressed the button for Yoon on the ballot, a year later they would want to cut that finger off, or words to that effect. After the surprise announcement of his withdrawal from the race, the morning after the last televised debate, there was some bitter and sarcastic criticism of his sell out of “new politics.” He was reminded of his commitment to congruence between word and deed, and now is regarded as a hypocrite, particularly with regard to his comments on removing corruption from government administration, which obviously won’t occur with a Yoon presidency. Numbers from a hypothetical survey showed that Lee would get 31.2 percent of Ahn’s votes, Yoon would get 29.2 percent and the remaining Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung would get 8 percent. The impact on the election outcome would then be neutral.
South Korean opposition rivals Ahn and Yoon team up for election
With less than a week to go, partnership deals blow to ruling party’s Lee
by KIM JAEWON, Nikkei staff writer
March 3, 2022 09:08 JST
SEOUL — Two opposition candidates for South Korea’s presidency on Thursday said they will forge an alliance to battle the ruling party’s contender, with less than a week before the election.
Ahn Cheol-soo of the centrist People’s Party announced that he would support Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party to achieve a change of government. Their alliance is seen as a blow to the chances of Lee Jae-myung, of the Democratic Party, who is closely chasing Yoon in opinion polls...
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/South-Korea-election/South-Korean-opposition-rivals-Ahn-and-Yoon-team-up-for-election
Bad news for democratic candidate Lee Jae-myung. Polls indicate that the race is within the margin of error. Ahn’s agreement to ally himself with Yoon makes it more difficult for Lee to win with final votes at the polls to occur March 9. Ahn’s agreement with Yoon, will probably add as much as four percent to Yoon’s margin. There was one KSOI poll which was an outlier showing Lee with an 8 percent advantage a couple of days ago. Other polls conceivably biased in Yoon’s favor showed Yoon with a one to four point advantage. No doubt Yoon’s advisers understood the automated poll’s biases, and were forced to meet Ahn’s terms which are not disclosed as yet, as far as I can tell.
This deal reflects poorly on Ahn, as evidence lately disclosed in investigative journalist reports show clear evidence of Yoon’s wife and mother in law participating in a stock manipulation scheme, (alleged to have occurred before Yoon formed a relationship with with his wife). The scheme was over ten years ago, but the circumstantial evidence suggests later prosecution manipulation of the investigation to keep Yoon’s wife out of prison. It is also alleged that this is part of a larger pattern of prosecution political corruption connected to Yoon.
My theory is that Ahn knows Yoon and his party are in deep trouble. If Yoon wins the presidential election, and massive opposition street politics return to South Korea, an impeachment later may work to Ahn’s political advantage. I’m hoping that the progressive candidate Lee wins against the new odds. No more polls allowed this close to election day.
Progressives in South Korea describe this race as democracy v. a return to authoritarian government by the corrupt special interests (dictatorship really), rather than a campaign over progressive v. conservative governance. It will be a sad and disappointing day in South Korea if Yoon wins. I think Yoon revealed his dominant and intolerant attitude in negotiations with Ahn before they reached this agreement at the eleventh hour. Yoon only conceded to Ahn’s terms because he is desperate to regain control of the judicial administration in South Korea to keep himself, his family and political mentors and cronies out of prison. If Yoon wins the election I predict he will marginalize Ahn no matter what his nominal position in the government. I’m sure Yoon’s followers in Japan and the US are overjoyed by the latest news. Yoon is clearly a fan of the Japanese and will completely reverse South Korea’s efforts to steer an independent foreign policy course based upon South Korean national interests.
March 6 Update: Early voting in South Korea is reported at 36 percent
This indicates voters are very motivated. Over 16 million votes were cast. Democratic party analysts believe that this will be in their favor. Late polls up to the Mar 3 cut off showed less than a one percent difference between the two major candidates. There are conflicting opinions about the impact of Ahn Cheol-soo dropping from the race in support of a so called conservative unity ticket. Less than a week before balloting began, Ahn declared that there would not be a unity ticket and negotiations were broken off. In fact, Ahn said at a rally that if one pressed the button for Yoon on the ballot, a year later they would want to cut that finger off, or words to that effect. After the surprise announcement of his withdrawal from the race, the morning after the last televised debate, there was some bitter and sarcastic criticism of his sell out of “new politics.” He was reminded of his commitment to congruence between word and deed, and now is regarded as a hypocrite, particularly with regard to his comments on removing corruption from government administration, which obviously won’t occur with a Yoon presidency. Numbers from a hypothetical survey showed that Lee would get 31.2 percent of Ahn’s votes, Yoon would get 29.2 percent and the remaining Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung would get 8 percent. The impact on the election outcome would then be neutral.
Saturday, February 19, 2022
The implications of a Yoon Seok-yeol presidency in South Korea
A recent article in Responsible Statecraft, by Daniel Larison, examined the foreign policy implications of a possible Yoon Seok-yeol election to the presidency this March 9:
The South Korean presidential election next month will have significant implications for both U.S. and South Korean foreign policies.
Depending on which candidate wins next month, South Korean foreign policy could become considerably more hawkish and combative toward both North Korea and China. If conservative opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol prevails, a renewed emphasis on North Korea’s denuclearization and a rejection of the engagement policy of the Moon administration threaten to undo all the gains of the last several years and put the U.S. and South Korea back on the path to heightened tensions and a new crisis on the peninsula. If the Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-myung wins, there is likely to be much more continuity in South Korean policy, but that could also mean increased friction with a Biden administration that seems to have little interest in resolving outstanding disputes with the North. No matter who wins, the U.S. will need to manage its relationship with Seoul more carefully and attentively than it has done in recent years.
After elections, South Korea could become more hawkish, combative; Daniel Larison Feb. 14, 2021, Responsibe Statecraft;
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/02/14/after-elections-south-korea-could-become-more-hawkish-combative/
Pretty straightforward analysis of the foreign policy implications of the March 9 presidential election. By limiting itself to foreign policy, the dicey issues of Yoon's politicization of the administration of justice in South Korea are avoided. His family's alleged financial corruption is also avoided.
Few people are willing to examine the circumstances surrounding investigations and prosecutions particularly involving political figures or major financial scandals in South Korea. Most media take the results of investigation and judicial outcomes at face value without questioning them. The truth is administration of justice in South Korea under Yoon's tutelage as prosecutor general became even more politicized and arbitrary than under the two previous authoritarian administrations. Legal reforms limiting prosecution offices' authority to investigate were implemented in 2021 by the democratic super majority legislature. Yoon has indicated his intent to void such reforms, and further to make the office of Prosecutor General independent of any outside control by the Justice Ministry or any independent body such as the Gongsujeo (office for investigation of crimes by high government officials).
Yoon's statements and those of his wife in regard to their critics and political rivals suggest an intent to retaliate against any judges, prosecutors, journalists or politicians who advocate that investigations of alleged corruption by Yoon's offices, colleagues, or family members need to proceed rather than be stuck in limbo as they have during his tenure as Prosecutor General, and now again, during the presidential campaign.
Yoon has stated an intent to investigate and prosecute outgoing President Moon Jae-in, although he never specified what the charges might be. He has also accused presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of corruption during the Daejangdong real estate scandal without a shred of evidence. Current reports in independent media in South Korea suggest that those under investigation are virtually all from the conservative side of the house associated with the former Park Geun-hye administration.
Yoon allegedly recently authored an article in Foreign Policy. One must seriously doubt he is capable of writing such an article, in spite of its slavish adherence to US and Japanese agendas. He has no foreign policy experience whatsoever. He has never been elected to public office. His statements suggest he will return South Korea to a quisling semicolonial status under the direction of the US and Japan if he is elected. The corruption of the republic and the return to authoritarianism will be virtually assured by his election. Yoon's politically problematic presidential campaign is a red flag suggesting that descriptions of South Korea as a "resilient democracy" in western media are more of a myth than fact.
Saturday, February 12, 2022
South Korea: Presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol's Shaman Risk
This is from TK's The Blue Roof website concerning Yoon Seok-yeol's shaman risk* :
The highly anticipated recorded phone calls of Kim Geon-hee 김건희, wife of the People Power Party presidential candidate Yun Seok-yeol 윤석열 국민의힘 대선 후보, were full of lowlights. Over the course of nearly eight hours’ worth of phone calls with a journalist whom she had imagined to be sympathetic, Kim spoke freely on the #metoo movement (“Conservatives don’t have #metoo issues because they pay money”) and her plans for adversarial journalists if she enters the Blue House 청와대 (“The police will arrest them whether we tell them to or not”). But in this target-rich environment, one comment by Kim drew the most attention. Denying the rumors that she was previously a high-end hostess with the stage name of Julie (see previous coverage, “The Spousal Risk”), Kim said: “I hate nightclubs - they’re too loud. I’m a spiritual person. I’d rather be reading and chatting with shamans 도사들 about life.” In other parts, Kim also said she would move the State Guest House 영빈관 of the Blue House, because a shaman had advised her to do so.
*Shamans: Yun Seok-yeol Cannot Quit Them
Persistent and long-standing connections with superstition is becoming the Yun campaign's greatest liability.
TK 10 February 2022
https://www.blueroofpolitics.com/p/shamans-yun-seok-yeol-cannot-quit-them/
I recommend the article for a good summary of the shaman risk, such at it is, to Yoon's campaign and the future of South Korea's democracy. The web site is free but you have to register. T.K., maybe the leading US interpreter of South Korea's domestic politics, suggests that Yoon's superstitious reliance on guru or shaman advisors is the greatest risk to his campaign. Is this greatest risk or the risk allowed to enter the public domain by the gatekeepers of the media in Korea and the US? The truth is the greatest risk is the list of alleged criminal acts by Yoon's family. In the same vein, has been Yoon's politicization of his former prosecution positions to coverup financial scandals and attack political rivals. T.K. doesn't go there, as some South Korean pundits do, because it impugns the democratic reputation of South Korea. Democracy and the rule of law in South Korea are under a sustained assault by the legacy media, corporate interests, and corrupt politicians, as the presidential race enters its final weeks.
The administration of justice and the democratic process in South Korea seem beyond salvation after Yoon's reign as the Prosecutor General. A disciplinary board found Yoon had politicized the office, interfered in investigations, and unlawfully investigated sitting judges. Yoon tried to block the disciplinary findings with an injunction, and left office before a higher court sustained the disciplinary sanctions and remarked that Yoon could have suffered dismissal from office for his professional violations of ethics, rather than just a two month suspension. I've written at length elsewhere of the allegations, investigations, and court cases involving Yoon, his family, and his political victims. T.K. generally avoids "deep dives" on these subjects and takes the prosecutor's decisions and court judgements at face value. He described Yoon as "center right" which is simply misleading, he is a far right candidate, and, if elected, will return South Korea to authoritarian rule, if not an outright dictatorship. However, in mainstream media in South Korea and the west, it will still be described as a democratic society sharing our "values."
언알바 has pointed out that for every article even mildly critical of Yoon Seok-yeol in South Korean mainstream media that six articles are published with essentially baseless accusations against the democratic presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung. In this sense, the South Korean political process is already severely corrupted. The 언알바 pundit suggests that debates and further adverse disclosures are unlikely to have any impact whatever on the election chances of Yoon Seok-yeol . Every gaffe, mistake, and adverse report concerning Yoon is either ignored, spun, or otherwise soft pedaled by the Korean legacy media to excuse Yoon. Yoon Seok Yeol is clearly unsuited for presidential office and it isn't just his superstitious belief in the flying wizards who advise him or his penchant for "so mek" boilermakers.
The conservative Korean Times has described Sincheonji, ostensibly a "church," as a fringe sect. The quotes below are from The World internet site:
“Shinchonji is the only path to God,” Lee tells me. “There is only one shepherd who is with Jesus and God and sends the words of Jesus and heaven.”
“You have to meet the shepherd,” Lee (Ki-won) says.
The shepherd that he is talking about is Lee Man-hee, the founder of Shinchonji...
“...Shinchonji people believe that he will live forever,” says J-il Tark of Busan Presbyterian University, referring to Lee Man-hee.
Tark is an expert on heretical Christian groups, and he says Shinchonji is one of the most prominent of them in South Korea today. Korean Christians are “strongly against Shinchonji,” Tark says.
That's because the believers of Shinchonji, “are attacking the core belief of Christianity,” Tark says, by equating their founder with the second coming of Jesus. That, he adds, puts Shinchonji far outside of the Christian mainstream.
*This apocalyptic Korean Christian group goes by different names. Critics say it's just a cult.
The World, July 11, 2017 · 8:00 AM EDT, By Matthew Bell
https://theworld.org/stories/2017-07-11/apocalyptic-korean-christian-group-goes-different-names-critics-say-its-just-cult
Yoon is supported by other far right fundamentalist Christian churches, such as the Jaeil Sarong Church of demogogue Jeon Gwang-hun.
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Reaction to Political Crossroads article by Gregory Erlich
Gregory Erlich has written a brilliant article published in the Counterpunch February 8 issue, Is Korea Heading Toward a Political Crossroads?* Anyone who is interested in Korean affairs and the geopolitical situation in northeast Asia should read it. There is so much distortion in the established media concerning international relations, Erlich's clarity and insights are refreshing. The article provoked some general thoughts on the situation in South Korea with the presidential election results just a month away.
* https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/02/08/is-korea-heading-toward-a-political-crossroads/
President Moon Jae-in came from a poor family that emigrated from North Korea. He’s pretty much a card carrying orthodox Catholic. He was a human rights lawyer, worked with No Moo-hyun and then participated in his presidential administration.
It’s fair to observe that the latter part of Moon's administration has been stalled somewhat since the US-DPRK fiasco at Hanoi, and that the US pressured South Korea to give up on Moon’s tangible North Korean economic, and cultural initiatives. The US threatened South Korea with sanctions. The so called US envoy to North Korea turned out to be the South Korea control officer.
Domestically other reforms that Moon might have achieved were foreclosed by the pandemic, and the social and economic challenges associated with that. He came through it pretty well, at around a 40 percent public approval rating, more popular than any other president of South Korea in the post dictatorship period near the end of his administration. His social agenda stalled somewhat after some attempted reforms of excessive prosecutorial powers even after his party took a filibuster proof majority in the National Assembly in April 2020.
Moon eschewed the more tangible national security issues as much as he could during the current electoral campaign season for obvious reasons. He’s allowed the US to put boilerplate about the Taiwan strait and the Indo-Pacific in joint statements. In spite of this, I believe he’s actually conceded as little as possible. There is a significant portion of his party that is decidedly neo-liberal and is responsible for the inertia in social policy. Lee Nak-yon the prime minister during this period was pretty conservative. Fortunately Lee Nak-yon lost in the recent democratic presidential primaries to “populist” Lee Jae-myung who is both more competent and more progressive.
The problems in South Korean governance were only beginning to be recognized after the impeachment of Park Geun-hye. It will take a consistent determined effort to root out the deep-seated corrupt special interests, to which a good number of lawyers, doctors, journalists and politicians belong. It isn’t just the usual corporate suspects. If the democrats fail to win the presidential election in March, the country will go down the authoritarian road again and conduct itself as a US puppet internationally.
US attempted dominance of Moon’s administration is akin to the Japanese protectorate period 1905-1910 right before the outright Japanese annexation of Korea. South Korea must carve out more room for maneuver diplomatically, improve relations with its other half, maintain a positive relationship with China, and reduce the US footprint on its military and foreign policy. ( Are South Korea's relations with North Korea really foreign policy? )
South Korea on a GDP basis contributes more to its own defense than all other US allies. Nevertheless, a reduced US military presence in Northeast Asia and South Korea in particular needs to be associated with some sort of new diplomatic relationship between North Korea and the US. That would be the right way to do it. The current sanctions regime and hostile regime change relationship promoted by the US is untenable really. Americans need to start thinking of Korea as a national entity, rather than some military staging area or springboard in a war with North Korea or China. The latter US military perspective is just delusional at this point but has been so deeply engrained over seventy years.
夢
More: The major western media such as the Washington Post attempt to portray both South Korean major presidential candidates as politicians engaged in dirty campaign tactics. This is to deliberately mislead the English speaking world. It is the conservative candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, who is decidedly corrupt as well as incompetent. As Erlich points out, he is clearly the candidate favored by the US. Yoon is an authoritarian figure accustomed to giving orders. He appears under the undue political influence of shamanists and his vindictive and deceitful spouse. Kim Gon-hee has changed her identity and her physical appearance before marrying Yoon. She has also falsified her academic and career credentials. A Korean court has dismissed an injunction application seeking to block disclosures about her private life because she is a public figure as the presidential candidate's wife, and her background is a matter of legitimate public interest.
Ill informed Yoon did poorly in the first televised debate the other night and is obviously trying to avoid further debates and public embarrassment (edit 2.12.21) however, three public debates are required by law. It was obvious that he was the least competent leader in the room. Perhaps this is what the west desires. Accusations that the democratic candidate Lee Jae-myung is corrupt as well are simply false. During the time when Yoon was Prosecutor General, and earlier, Yoon's "brigade" in prosecutors' offices, after extensive investions and criminal litigation against Lee, failed to produce a conviction. When Yoon tried to link Lee to the Daejangdong real estate scandal, Lee correctly pointed out not one speck of evidence has been uncovered to link him to any corruption despite years of investigation and litigation. Yet, the same could not be said for Yoon Seok-yeol or his family. The corrupt media and justice administration in South Korea have stalled, derailed, dismissed or postponed investigations of Yoon and his family members successfully over the years. Current cases are being held in abeyance for fear that Yoon may return to power and take revenge on government officials, independent journalists, and others who have uncovered evidence of Yoon's family corruption.
* https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/02/08/is-korea-heading-toward-a-political-crossroads/
President Moon Jae-in came from a poor family that emigrated from North Korea. He’s pretty much a card carrying orthodox Catholic. He was a human rights lawyer, worked with No Moo-hyun and then participated in his presidential administration.
It’s fair to observe that the latter part of Moon's administration has been stalled somewhat since the US-DPRK fiasco at Hanoi, and that the US pressured South Korea to give up on Moon’s tangible North Korean economic, and cultural initiatives. The US threatened South Korea with sanctions. The so called US envoy to North Korea turned out to be the South Korea control officer.
Domestically other reforms that Moon might have achieved were foreclosed by the pandemic, and the social and economic challenges associated with that. He came through it pretty well, at around a 40 percent public approval rating, more popular than any other president of South Korea in the post dictatorship period near the end of his administration. His social agenda stalled somewhat after some attempted reforms of excessive prosecutorial powers even after his party took a filibuster proof majority in the National Assembly in April 2020.
Moon eschewed the more tangible national security issues as much as he could during the current electoral campaign season for obvious reasons. He’s allowed the US to put boilerplate about the Taiwan strait and the Indo-Pacific in joint statements. In spite of this, I believe he’s actually conceded as little as possible. There is a significant portion of his party that is decidedly neo-liberal and is responsible for the inertia in social policy. Lee Nak-yon the prime minister during this period was pretty conservative. Fortunately Lee Nak-yon lost in the recent democratic presidential primaries to “populist” Lee Jae-myung who is both more competent and more progressive.
The problems in South Korean governance were only beginning to be recognized after the impeachment of Park Geun-hye. It will take a consistent determined effort to root out the deep-seated corrupt special interests, to which a good number of lawyers, doctors, journalists and politicians belong. It isn’t just the usual corporate suspects. If the democrats fail to win the presidential election in March, the country will go down the authoritarian road again and conduct itself as a US puppet internationally.
US attempted dominance of Moon’s administration is akin to the Japanese protectorate period 1905-1910 right before the outright Japanese annexation of Korea. South Korea must carve out more room for maneuver diplomatically, improve relations with its other half, maintain a positive relationship with China, and reduce the US footprint on its military and foreign policy. ( Are South Korea's relations with North Korea really foreign policy? )
South Korea on a GDP basis contributes more to its own defense than all other US allies. Nevertheless, a reduced US military presence in Northeast Asia and South Korea in particular needs to be associated with some sort of new diplomatic relationship between North Korea and the US. That would be the right way to do it. The current sanctions regime and hostile regime change relationship promoted by the US is untenable really. Americans need to start thinking of Korea as a national entity, rather than some military staging area or springboard in a war with North Korea or China. The latter US military perspective is just delusional at this point but has been so deeply engrained over seventy years.
夢
More: The major western media such as the Washington Post attempt to portray both South Korean major presidential candidates as politicians engaged in dirty campaign tactics. This is to deliberately mislead the English speaking world. It is the conservative candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, who is decidedly corrupt as well as incompetent. As Erlich points out, he is clearly the candidate favored by the US. Yoon is an authoritarian figure accustomed to giving orders. He appears under the undue political influence of shamanists and his vindictive and deceitful spouse. Kim Gon-hee has changed her identity and her physical appearance before marrying Yoon. She has also falsified her academic and career credentials. A Korean court has dismissed an injunction application seeking to block disclosures about her private life because she is a public figure as the presidential candidate's wife, and her background is a matter of legitimate public interest.
Ill informed Yoon did poorly in the first televised debate the other night and is obviously trying to avoid further debates and public embarrassment (edit 2.12.21) however, three public debates are required by law. It was obvious that he was the least competent leader in the room. Perhaps this is what the west desires. Accusations that the democratic candidate Lee Jae-myung is corrupt as well are simply false. During the time when Yoon was Prosecutor General, and earlier, Yoon's "brigade" in prosecutors' offices, after extensive investions and criminal litigation against Lee, failed to produce a conviction. When Yoon tried to link Lee to the Daejangdong real estate scandal, Lee correctly pointed out not one speck of evidence has been uncovered to link him to any corruption despite years of investigation and litigation. Yet, the same could not be said for Yoon Seok-yeol or his family. The corrupt media and justice administration in South Korea have stalled, derailed, dismissed or postponed investigations of Yoon and his family members successfully over the years. Current cases are being held in abeyance for fear that Yoon may return to power and take revenge on government officials, independent journalists, and others who have uncovered evidence of Yoon's family corruption.
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