ID :
34048
Fri, 12/05/2008 - 10:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/34048
The shortlink copeid
Lee Jae-oh hints at early homecoming amid rumors of Cabinet reshuffle
NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (Yonhap) -- A close confidant of South Korean President Lee
Myung-bak hinted Thursday at an early homecoming amid reports that he may be
offered the premiership or another post in an upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.
Lee Jae-oh, whose one-year academic visa expires in May, is now teaching at Johns
Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.
"I will get back home anytime if I think it's better for me than studying in the
United States, even before the visa expires," he told a Korea Society forum here.
The former three-term lawmaker is said to lead the biggest faction in South
Korea's ruling Grand National Party. He has been in Washington since May, soon
after he was defeated in the April general elections.
"Some ask me to come early, others say I should not come back (to Korea)," he
said. "However, I would not adjust my homecoming schedule due to that kind of
words because I am not in exile."
Lee Jae-oh's followers want him to return as soon as possible so he can play a
central role in the second year of President Lee's five-year term in helping the
government cope with the global economic crisis and frayed inter-Korean ties.
But critics say his early comeback may trigger factionalism and a wider division
in the party in a tense intra-party rivalry with Park Geun-hye, former GNP leader
and a close presidential challenger to President Lee. Park is said to control
nearly half of 172 GNP lawmakers. South Korea's unicameral National Assembly has
299 lawmakers.
Some close aides of President Lee recently recommended Park as the next prime
minister to forge a strong partnership, especially after U.S. President-elect
Barack Obama's recent nomination of his Democratic presidential rival Hillary
Clinton as secretary of state, according to reports.
"Rep. Park has an important political power within the GNP, so I think it's
better for her to play more roles," Lee Jae-oh said of the reports on his
political rival.
He said he plans to tour Europe and Africa after the end of the semester in
mid-December.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
Myung-bak hinted Thursday at an early homecoming amid reports that he may be
offered the premiership or another post in an upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.
Lee Jae-oh, whose one-year academic visa expires in May, is now teaching at Johns
Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.
"I will get back home anytime if I think it's better for me than studying in the
United States, even before the visa expires," he told a Korea Society forum here.
The former three-term lawmaker is said to lead the biggest faction in South
Korea's ruling Grand National Party. He has been in Washington since May, soon
after he was defeated in the April general elections.
"Some ask me to come early, others say I should not come back (to Korea)," he
said. "However, I would not adjust my homecoming schedule due to that kind of
words because I am not in exile."
Lee Jae-oh's followers want him to return as soon as possible so he can play a
central role in the second year of President Lee's five-year term in helping the
government cope with the global economic crisis and frayed inter-Korean ties.
But critics say his early comeback may trigger factionalism and a wider division
in the party in a tense intra-party rivalry with Park Geun-hye, former GNP leader
and a close presidential challenger to President Lee. Park is said to control
nearly half of 172 GNP lawmakers. South Korea's unicameral National Assembly has
299 lawmakers.
Some close aides of President Lee recently recommended Park as the next prime
minister to forge a strong partnership, especially after U.S. President-elect
Barack Obama's recent nomination of his Democratic presidential rival Hillary
Clinton as secretary of state, according to reports.
"Rep. Park has an important political power within the GNP, so I think it's
better for her to play more roles," Lee Jae-oh said of the reports on his
political rival.
He said he plans to tour Europe and Africa after the end of the semester in
mid-December.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
