S. Korean prime minister raps anti-government move

BEIJING, June 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo expressed
worries Saturday over growing public criticism that the country's democracy is
regressing under the Lee Myung-bak administration.
"Our country is not an autocratic country but a democratic nation," Han told
South Korean correspondents here. He is on a trip to Beijing to attend a meeting
of the Institute of International Finance.
Although Lee was elected by a landslide, critics of him claim that the country's
hard-won democracy after decades of military rule is in peril, saying the
president is turning a deaf ear to public opinion and rolling back civil
liberties.
Inter-Korean relations have been chilled since Lee took office early last year
and critics said that the businessman-turned-leader is pursuing policies only for
the wealthy and vested powers, with the freedom and independence of the press
severely hurt.
Public anger have grown since Lee's immediate predecessor committed suicide last
month amid an investigation by prosecutors into his alleged involvement in a
bribery corruption. Some argued the probe was a politically motivated attempt to
quash Roh and his supporters.
Tens of thousands of people held an anti-government rally at Seoul Plaza on
Wednesday to mark the 22nd anniversary of the June 10 popular uprising for
democratization.
Groups of professors at Seoul National University and other major colleges
nationwide issued a series of joint statements demanding a a government apology
for the investigation and Lee's improved communications with the public.
Former President Kim Dae-jung, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his
efforts to thaw inter-Korean tension, joined the chorus of criticism against the
Lee administration.
"I say this with firm conviction: that both the people and the Lee Myung-bak
administration will meet only misfortune if President Lee and the government
continue to walk down the road they are on now," the former president said earlier
this week in a ceremony marking the ninth anniversary of his historic summit with
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang.
"I want to reiterate to President Lee. Many are saying from all corners of
society that the Lee administration is backpedaling on democracy. We must
remember that when there were dictators, our people overcame and restored
democracy."
The presidential office immediately accused Kim of trying to instigate an
ideological rift.
The prime minister said such criticism is a misreading of the current situation.
"They define President Lee Myung-bak as a dictator. I don't know whether they
really believe (South Korea) is an autocratic country. If so, it is big
misunderstanding," Han said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)