• Protests: (2003-2009)
  • Anti-War Protests: 2003 -- Roh weeps crocodile tears saying he was forced to send troops to Iraq, then drags his feet. Anti-war venom runs high amongst activists and "F_CK USA" becomes hit activist song again.
  • Protests and Impacts on USFK: 2003 -- Pro-American rallies seemed to be Anti-Sunshine Policy protests. Massive anti-nuke rallies -- pro-American turnout by veteran groups and Christian churches. Anti-American feelings still persists. Roh attempts to change SOFA, but denied. "America Go Home" chants starting to gain ground with Americans agreeing with the activists.
  • Anti-War Protests: 2003 -- Anti-War protests with anti-Americanism present. Mass rallies against America starting to create ill-will in America.
  • Anti-American Protests: 2003 -- Protests continue with mainly Unification elements taking the lead from the anti-War groups. Feeling of anti-Americanism in all the protests. Protests mainly non-violent.
  • Protests: (Jan-Mar 2004) -- Leadership vacuum in activist movement. Protests turn violent with activists using splintered bamboo poles. Roh's impeachment brings the people out in the streets. Impeachment was a MDP/GNP political ploy -- and the people were incensed.
  • Protests: (Apr-Jun 2004) -- Protests against government under control. Voters turn on the MDP/GNP in Apr elections. Violent protests start at Daechuri (Pyeongtaek). (SEE USFK: Camp Humphreys Protests for details.)
  • Protests: (Jul-Sep 2004) -- Anti-Iraq deployment protests spearheaded by anti-war groups. Some unification protests.
  • Protests: (Oct-Dec 2004) -- Massive pro-American rally. Labor unions turn violent in protests. Violent WTO protests from farmers.
  • Protests: (Jan-Mar 2005) -- Violent protests center on Daechuri. (SEE USFK: Camp Humphreys Protests for details.)
  • Protests: (Apr 2005) -- Protests at Daechuri. Protests quiet down as activist groups at crossroads -- there is a lack of support on many emotional causes. Unification fervor waning.
  • Chinese Torch Rally Riot (May 2008) -- The media hyped affair, brought about by letting over-zealous anti-North Korea refugee groups and Free-Tibet factions clash with nationalistic Chinese out to "protect" the Torch Rally which had been under attack in major capitals of the world. Korea was no different, and the ethnic Chinese came out in large numbers to support their country. As a backlash, the Koreans stated their "national pride" was hurt by the incident and vowed to deport the Chinese students involved. Diplomats on the other hand wished the incident to be hushed up and swept under the carpet. An unthought of factor was that there are many Chinese in Korea who are NOT students but rather resident Chinese who have been here for generations. The impacts to them were unthought of in the rash statements condemning all Chinese students. It was fast becoming an international incident. After the Anti-US Beef Row flared in Korea in May 2008 (See Boneless Beef Row.) and the Chinese massive earthquake in May 2008 that killed tens of thousands, this event was totally forgotten both by the Chinese and Koreans. It became a non-issue that it should have been in the first place. (Closed)
  • Boneless Beef Row Part II -- Beef Issue Politicized: Not about Beef at all!!! (May 2008-Jun 2008) -- What started off as a teenager-sponsored, health-oriented issue swiftly turned into fear-mongering and hysteria to block the US Beef agreement -- and in turn the ROKUS FTA. The teenagers were being manipulated by the progressives -- who sponsored slick advertising and manipulated the internet and media. The ruse revealed itself on 24 May and the REAL agitators were exposed as the entire progressive movement. This was a life-or-death struggle against the conservatives who controlled the National Assembly and the Lee Myeong-bak administration which was seeking to oust all progressives from the government -- including public corporations. Their aim was to destabilize the government and render Lee Myeong-bak ineffective -- and therefore unable to carry out his grand plans to neutralize the progressives. Hastily formed under an umbrella group, the standby progressive forces appeared -- the KTEWU teachers, KTCU union, Anti-war NGO groups, Environmental NGO groups, Unification NGO groups, and the outlawed Hanchongryeon Federation of Student Unions. The protests under the guise of a peaceful candlelight vigil swiftly became violent in the hands of the Hanchongryeon. However, the people were slowly turning against the protests becoming politicized. Also conservatives appeared to be forming groups to protest the progressive elements. In June 2008, the progressive media joined the fight with KBS fighting privatization and MBC under fire for its PD Notebook program which started the mad cow hysteria with its false reporting. The protests ended when the police used force to round up the violent protestors on 29 June. After that the protests dwindled in numbers and were peaceful as the police promised to crackdown on future violence. The progressives called in Amnesty International -- famed for supporting violent demonstrations at Daechuri and fighting against the NSL -- but the police basically politely ignored it. With the flare up of the Tokdo controversy and Keumgangsan tourist killing in Jul 2008, along with ever increasing sales of US beef, the protests were all but over. In Aug the first LA Galbi entered the country quietly without major protests. (Closed)
  • Boneless Beef Row Part III -- Protests about Ousting of Lee Myeong-bak (Jul 2008-???) After the 29 Jun crackdown on the violent protests, the progressives regrouped. It was apparent that they were losing popular support and their numbers at the protests were falling. In Jul 2008, it was only the hard-core activists and Hanchongryeon that were creating trouble and had switched to hit-and-run guerilla tactics. The Police brought a "special tactics unit" out of retirement -- claiming that this will be the core of the new all-professional riot police --- and ready for action by Aug. Pepper spray, tear gas and dye were to be used in protests. The government was going after the organizers and anyone involved with a vengeance -- for the first time suing them for millions of won in damages. The progressives were on the run -- and were going to make their last gasp attempt on 6 Aug when President Bush arrived for a summit/visit. The protests were broken when the people simply did not show up. The organizers were sued and police hunted them down for the violence. The protestors wanted to attempt to regroup, but there was no interest as the Lee Myeong-bak administration started to round up the activists. Activists have attempted in the later part of 2008 to rejuvenate their protests but there has been no public interest. In 2009, the police are still clamping down on the left-wing activists -- accusing some of Communist activity. (On-going)
• Domestic Events: 2005 --
• Domestic Events: 2006 -- Controversial school program changes from changing the school year to attacks on Private School Education; Roh administration attacks on Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Expression; Roh scrambling to find revenues to support his extravagant domestic programs, military "self-reliant defense" upgrades, and North Korean giveaways; and NIS "Truth Committee" reports slanted to prosecute the Roh agenda; NHRC actions; Turmoil in the police department; Roh administration's continued actions to fill key government positions with "progressives"; Xenophobic witch-hunt to penalize Japanese "collaborators."
• Domestic Events: 2007 -- Controversial school program changes from changing the school year to attacks on Private School Education; the last year of the Roh "lame duck" administration that has left Korea's economy in shambles; a housing bubble that is feared to be ready to burst; and an economy supported by exports while the local economy stagnates.
  • 386 Generation Spy Scandal (Jan-Mar 2007) This is the continuation of the 386 Generation Spy Scandal from 2006. The investigation was curtailed as it started to approach the steps of Cheong Wa Dae. The tendrils reached into the DLP and politics and threatened to spread throughout the government agencies as former activists had been increasingly appointed by the Roh administration into government positions. The investigation threatened to spread into the Uri Party and government appointees. At that point, the investigation was stopped and the evidence supposedly showed that this was only a small group which did not gather sensitive information. In Jan 2007, the suspects were arraigned, tried and convicted in Mar 2007. (SEE 386 Generation Spy Scandal: Korean-American Spy master (Oct-Nov 2006).) (See related article Stripping Michael Jang (Jang Min-ho) of US citizenship??? (Jan 2007) on how Michael Jang could lose his citizenship.)
  • Presidential Pardons: A farce with "Get Out of Jail Free" Cards (2007) When Roh Moo-hyun entered office, he pledged he would rein in the pardons. Instead, he became the greatest get out of jail administration. Chaebol bosses who embezzled millions -- and in cases billions of dollars -- were allowed to get out of jail because of the "service they did for the country." Politicians and cronies who were sent to jail for illegally obtaining millions of dollars in campaign contributions were let out of jail. The whole system was a farce where the little guy was placed in jail because of the debtor system the ROK has -- while the big fish swam free.
  • Public School Law (2007) -- Devisive issue dating back to the beginnings of the Roh administration and his administration's attempt to institute an eglatarian form of education. The results have been less than satisfactory. Using the excuse of corruption by some schools, the administration started to attempt to institute controls by changing the school board of directors makeup. The GNP protested and took the cases to the Constitutional Court.
  • Education: Eglatarianism or Scholarship (2007) Under the liberal administrations, the educational system of Korea became a fortress of bureaucracy with a philosophy of "dumbing down" the standards to supposedly even the playing field. The entire system used monies and regulations to force the schools to bend to their will. Basic Science was lacking, Engineering in colleges was rated an "F", but the most ominous was the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers Union (KTEWU) that started teaching the North's philosophy to children with the acquiescence of the Education Ministry. The Conservatives fought back over the Private School Law and openly battled Roh's "Three No's of Education" policies. Unqualified foreign teachers and failing TOEFL/TOEIC tests were other problems. After Lee Myeong-bak was elected in Dec 2007, his transition team announced the Education Ministry would be downsized and colleges would be allowed to handle its own entrance requirements. The new Conservatives would seek to reverse the Roh administrations "egalitarian" form of education.
  • Korea Rewriting History (2007) -- Korea continues to condemn China over its incorrect ancient history and Japan over its more recent WWII history. In Jan 2007, during the winter games, Korea skiers outraged China when they held up signs claiming "Baekdu is Ours." This is a continuation of the ROK-Chinese disputes dealing with the boundary areas and the claims that Korea was a vassal state of China. At the same time Korea is revising its history text books and training a new generation on the liberal, nationalistic revisions. In addition, Korean historical dramas are exporting the Korean historical views and offended Chinese TV viewers. The disputes center around the early Korean kingdoms -- and Korea has extended its historical revision to consider Dangeun -- the semi-god founder of Korea -- as a figurative symbol of a real kingdom that existed. The history is a mandatory subject in elementary through high schools -- but now will be a mandatory test for college entrance exams starting in 2010. The incoming Lee Myeong-bak has taken a dim view of the revisionist history fostered by liberal activists. The "truth committees" will be reined in under the new Conservative administration.
  • Internet Woes Run the Gamut (Jan-May 2007) From Prostitution, Internet harassment, malicious attacks on foreign computers, failure of WiBro to fulfill expectations, etc. etc. etc. Many of the ROK social ills are being blamed on the internet -- including teenage suicides -- but the ROK fails to address the root causes. The internet culture is also being forced to come to grips with blogs that spread libelous materials.
  • Suicides Growing Problem in Korea (2007) -- Something is wrong when more people die of suicides than car accidents. Korea has the highest suicide rate amongst 30 OECD countries. (NOTE: The suicides continued in 2008 with celebrity after celebrity committing suicide -- not counting students and financially strapped families.)
  • ROK "Humanitarian Aid" to North Korea (2007) Roh Moo-hyun using funding of the Unification Ministry and support of activist groups has sent massive amounts of aid to the North without reciprocal arrangements. Fertilizer, Medicine, Land Development in the North, Cash and Building materials, and Rice. Besides this the World Food Program was heavily subsidized by the ROK while the rest of the world was refusing to donate because the North would not allow monitoring of the food distribution -- meaning the food went to the Army first. Heavy Fuel Oil and Electricity were also sent.
• Domestic Events: 2008 -- Inflation, joblessness and economy in stagflation as a result of Roh administration policies. Lee administration conservativism and pro-business stance holds promise for a turnaround -- but nation still not convinced. Lee's big dreams of a canal and reversing the Roh administration policies may cause a lot of pain -- the most immediate being the downsizing of government.
  • Inter-Korean Railroad (2007-2008) -- The test of the railroad on 17 May 2007 was a historic event. After many delays dating back to 2004, the railroad runs were made on two rail lines. The tests were highly symbolic to the Korean people of the progress towards reunification. However, it came at a cost in the ROK form of giveaways. The railway started daily cargo runs to Kaesong, but further costly expansion will be reviewed by the incoming Lee Myeong-bak administration. Once the symbol of national reunification, the railway by 2008 had lost its symbolism in the populace's mind. The shipments on the rail connection to Kaesong curtailed in 2008 due to lack of materials being shipped.
  • Education: Massive Upheaval (2008) -- Massive Educational changes underway in education -- some leftovers from the Roh administration, while others from the Lee Myeong-bak administration.
  • Internet and Media Issues (2008) -- Police investigate websites posting N.Korean information; Teenagers manipulated into feeding frenzy on internet over "mad cow disease' furor. After the furor died down, the portals are under attack by government for allowing it to happen. Hackers and spam a major problem. Media under attack by LMB to bring them under control as currently headed by progressive forces. LMB replaces the heads of the public media and works to break the control of public television.
  • Korea Revisionist History (2008) -- Major battles between the progressives and conservatives in Business, Industry and Defense. Attacks on publishers distributing materials from the Roh era which "demeaned" the ROK governments of Yi Syng-man and Park Chung-hee though there were decided contributions during their eras -- despite other criticisms. The government wants a more "balanced" look.
  • ROK Humanitarian Aid to North and Human Rights (2008) -- Lee Myeong-bak has started to swing away from the give-away programs of Roh Moo-hyun and into one that offers aid with a price-tag. Revelations that the North diverted the humanitarian rice to the DPRK military and diversion of funds for the family reunion program has also been voiced. Lee has taken a stronger stand on the human rights issues dealing with the North -- much to the consternation of the North.
  • Lee Myeong-bak's Grand Canal Scheme (2007-2008) -- Lee Myeong-bak's vision of a grand canal ran into strong opposition as soon as it was announced. Though he has triend to link it to improving tourism and stating that most of it would be funded by private money, the environmentalists, Buddhist sects and lawyer groups have all joined in growing dissent. After public outcry over the Anti-US beef row flared in May-Jun 2008, Lee and the government killed the project indefinitely to end growing anti-government concerns.
    
    
• Domestic Events: 2009 -- Downturn in the global economy and fears of a global recession worry the nation at the start of the year. Won rises to highest point before falling. Korea is in a recession -- and unemployment is rising with the global recession affecting the export nation. Lee Myeong=bak administration zeroing in on the activists that nearly toppled his administration -- and cutting off the aid to the North. Roh Moo-hyun's policies are all being reversed. Swine flu hits. Complications with North Korea as Kaesong threatens being closed and 2nd nuclear test in North. Roh Moo-hyun dies in fall.
  • Education: Massive Upheaval (2009) -- Massive Educational changes underway in education -- with more autonomy for colleges. Complete shakeup in education ministry.
  • Korea Revisionist History (2009) -- Year starts with looming battles between schools and publishers forced by the Ministry of Education to change their texts. The progressive KTEWU is squaring off on the issue.
  • Internet and Media Issues (2009) -- Year starts with the media under attack by the LMB administration.
  • Lee Myeong-bak's Grand Canal Scheme (2009) -- The government resurrected the project under the name of "cleaning up" the four major rivers. The cleanup started in Dec 2009 on the Naktong River -- just a new name for an old scheme. Expect the follow-on contracts for new bridges and roads that the provincial governors are clamoring for.
• Domestic Events: 2010 -- Tensions remain with North as Korea struggles to keep its economy above water.

• Business, Finance and Labor Events: 2006 -- Xenophobic business environment and failure of the Roh administration economic policies in a three-year recession.
  • US-ROK Fair Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations (2006) -- Starting with the Movie Quota issue and moving on, the FTA was a bumpy road at best with farmer riots and disputes on cars, pharmaceuticals, beef and rice leading the list of contested areas.
  • Lone Star Affair (2006) -- Xenophobic business environment created by Roh Moo-hyun and witch-hunts to retroactively punish "offenders" who dared make a profit in Korea -- as well as xenophobic policies to prevent foreign companies from gaining management control.
  • Hyundai Scandal (2006) -- For details of Chung Moo-koo's plight in 2006.
  
  
  
• Business, Finance and Labor Events: 2007 -- Xenophobic business environment and failure of the Roh administration economic policies.
  • US-ROK Fair Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations (Jan 2007 -- ???) -- The protectionist, chaebol controlled economy struggles to preserve its protectionist practices while the US plays hardball demanding change to what is "fair." In 2006, the chaebols were frustrated that they would be included under the FTA. Unfortunately, the Koreans view it as a giveaway. Skeptics do not believe it will meet the 2 Apr deadline -- and storm clouds ahead in US Congress over auto and beef issues. At the end of 2007, the ratification of the FTA by both the National Assembly and Congress was still hanging in the balance. The Boneless Beef row still had not been resolved and the auto makers in America were still protesting the unfairness of Korea's "hidden" tariffs. The ROK attempts to ratify the FTA in the face of Obama election -- a person against the FTA. Still fierce opposition by the farmer groups against the FTA at the end of 2008. Obama still has not sent it to Congress claiming he has other things on his plate. New USTR states that no renegotiations -- but there will be behind the scenes manuevering. (On-going)
  • Boneless Beef Row Part I -- Beef Issue Politicized (Nov 2006-Jan 2009) The boneless beef issue started off when there was a case of mad-cow disease reported in the US in 2003. The ROK immediately slammed the door shut on the importation of boneless beef (Kalbi) and it has been a struggle to open it up since. The USTR finally linked the opening of the boneless beef to the passage of the ROKUS FTA. The market was grudgingly opened with entire shipments being returned in one bone chip was found. Things progressed from comical to ridiculous -- but the US was not laughing. Then protests erupted, but this is covered in Part II as this was a protest where teenagers were being manipulated to support the NGO activist agendas. The peaceful teenagers Mad-cow protest portion is covered on this page. The teenager protests were replaced by the violent NGO activists in May 2008 showing that the protests were NOT about beef at all. The first of the violent protests is covered in Boneless Beef Row Part II (May 2008-Jun 2008) and the second part of the violence at Boneless Beef Row Part III (Jul 2008-???). The continuing opening of the market and conditions are covered under this page. By Nov 2008, the US had regained the number-one spot of beef imports. Once market was opened, US Beef climbed to #1 in the department stores. The local hanwoo beef STILL has not been inspected for Mad Cow disease. (Closed)
  • Lone Star Affair (Jan 2007 -- ???) -- Xenophobic business environment created by Roh Moo-hyun through the National Tax Service (NTS), Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and Prosecutors' Office. The sale of the Lone Star assets were continually under fire. The sale of the KEB was held up by the ROK trial over the illegal profit taking alleged by the ROK government. The saga would continue into 2008. However, the bottomline is that FDI is down in Korea because of the xenophobic fervor of the Roh administration. In Feb 2008, the conviction of Lone Star for manipulating stock prices to purchase the KEB sealed the fate of the falling FDI as the investment world watched the "fair trial." Lone Star was vindicated in the courts on appeal, but the FSC still blocked the sale of KEB to British banking giant HSBC because it is a hangover from the Roh administration. The FSC reversed itself and started a review of the sale of KEB to HSBC. Unfortunately, because the ROK interfered so much HSBC pulled out of the planned buy. The ROK has received a "black-eye" as unfriendly to business -- and Lone Star is looking to pull out of Korea completely. (On-going)
  • Hyundai Scandal (Jan 2007 -- Jun 2008) -- An example of the excesses of power where the Chung Moo-koo's embezzles company funds and manipulates stocks to give control to his son. Convicted, he attempts to wiggle out of jail time because he is "needed" to guide his company. In Mar 2008, he was reelected to the Board of Directors for another three years. His conviction sentence overturned because it amounted to community service of giving lectures. instead, he was sentenced to taking care of orphans for 300 hours -- and he STILL hasn't given the money he promised to government.
  • Samsung Slush Fund Scandal (Oct 2007 -- Oct 2008) In late 2007, a former high level executive of Samsung "confessed" to the slush funds of the President of the Samsung Corportation. The funds were allegedly used to secure stock that allowed the illegal transfer of control to the son. Though Samsung denied the allegations and threatened everyone involved, it became apparent that the allegations were true. A special counsel was appointed to investigate the matter after it was alleged that the highest ranks of the Roh administration -- including the prosecutors office -- were part of a payoff list. The prosecutors office stopped their investigation because the independent counsel appointed by President Roh would continue the investigation into 2008. Samsung's head resigned, was tried and convicted of tax evasion with a suspended sentence and a massive fine. However, the breach of trust was thrown out and despite the losses to investors, his son retains control of the Samsung group.
  
  
  
• Business, Finance and Labor Events: 2008 -- Xenophobic business environment and failure of the Roh administration economic policies continued with promises of Lee Myeong-bak to turn things around with a pro-business administration. The world was watching... Unfortunately for LMB, the progressives attempted a palace coup while they were still in power in some of the government agencies. The FSC attempted to stop the sale of the KEB by Lone Star to HSBC -- leading to an internal shakeup and -- poof -- suddenly the FSC was reviewing the sale and clearing the way. Unfortunately, the damage of the latest anti-US beef protests and progressives attempting to destabilize his government, coupled with the slowdown worldwide and skyrocketing oil prices was a disasterous combination for the ROK. FDI dropped for the third straight year, foreign investors were yanking their money out of the Korean bourse, inflation hit the highest mark in ten years, and all indicators showed the ROK heading to stagflation. Only woes are ahead for the ROK.
• Business, Finance and Labor Events: 2008 -- World-wide recession hits. Economy slows and unemployment increases. Won rate highest in seven years and impacts imports.
  
  
  
• Business, Finance and Labor Events: 2009 -- Year starts with a looming global recession and fears.
  
  

• Political Events: 2006 --
• Political Events: 2006 - 2007 -- The on-going "soap opera" of political scandals and the declining power of the Uri Party and slow return to power of the Grand National Party (GNP). The political wranglings as the Presidential race of 2007 heated up. The disintegration of the Uri Party and formation of the UNDP. The total rejection of the Progressive movement with the election of Lee Myeong-bak in Dec 2007.
• Political Events: 2008 -- Starting with the transition teams complete rejection of the Roh administration with the dismantling of the old Roh administration, the battle lines were formed even before Lee Myeong-bak took office on 25 Feb. In addition, there was the in-fighting of the Park Geun-hee faction to keep from being ousted by the GNP in the Apr 2008 elections -- over the rejection of politicians who had previously served jail time. The scandals continue unabated.
• Political Events: 2009 -- Year starts with the DP barricaded in the National Assembly trying to block the mass of conservative bills (On-going)

• ROK Military Events: (2003 - 2005) --
• ROK Military Events: (2006 - Present) --

• International Events: 2006 -- International news items of general interest that impact on Korea life or general impressions. Comfort Women resolution in Congress. Korean Education Refugees. Book controversy.
• International Events: 2007 -- International news items of general interest that impact on Korea life or general impressions. The following are some of the major stories of interest.
  • Stripping Michael Jang (Jang Min-ho) of US citizenship??? (Jan 2007) -- Michael Jang (Jang Min-ho) convicted of spying for DPRK in ROK in Apr 2007. But he was a spy BEFORE he joined the US Army, he was a spy DURING his USFK service at Yongsan, and he was a spy WHEN he became a US citizen. There are precedents for him being stripped of his citizenship.
  • Koreans Force Ban of "Distorted Korean History" in a FICTIONAL Book in America (Jan-May 2007) -- Korean-American parents outraged over a US school book -- but it appears that non-citizen Koreans (resident aliens) are behind forcing changes of the AMERICAN educational system.
  • Comfort Women Resolution in US (Feb 2007- Mar 2008) -- Another festering wound from WWII that involved the US Congress in fostering a non-binding resolution.
  • U.S. rules N.K. refugees who settled in South Korea ineligible for asylum (Apr 2007) -- DPRK Refugees who entered ROK first ineliglible for US asylum. Growing DPRK refugee problems...along with slow increase in refugees to the US.
  • Study of a Madman: Virginia Tech Campus Gunman, Cho Seung-hui (Apr 2007) -- Cho Seung-hui goes on a rampage and Korea feels collective guilt. America starts gun-control debate.
• International Events: 2008 -- International news items of general interest
• International Events: 2009 -- International news items of general interest
  
  

• Roh Moo-Hyun: Anti-American or Radical Reformist? (2003-2005) -- As soon as Roh entered office, he started to tinker with the policies towards the North. When Roh fled to the Uri Party, he made mortal enemies with the MDP who elected him to office. Thus set up the ruse for his impeachment -- a fatal mistake for both the MDP and GNP opposition. They were destroyed at the next election and Roh's impeachment was overturned. The "Sunshine Policy" of the Kim Dae-jung administration became the "Peace and Prosperity" policy. Roh became as close to being a North Korean as anyone could be. He invited North Korean sympathizers, his truth commission granted pensions to "freedom fighters" who were NORTH KOREANS. However, soon even his supporters were turning on him. His lack of attention to the economy and jobs turned farmers and business against him. His popularity sank even lower.
• Roh Moo-Hyun: Anti-American or Radical Reformist? (2006-Present) -- Comparison of Roh in 2004 and 2006 his failures and successes. His legacy was a summit where he gave away Korea to achieve it -- and a pending ROK-US FTA that was in deep trouble. After five years of recession -- that his administration denied for three years, in 2007 the ROK was in a state of stagflation. His cabinet level ministers abounded with allegations of corruption -- with many still under investigation. In 2007, his policies were resounding rejected by the ROK populace. However, in the future, there most certainly be further investigations of the actions of the Roh administration while in office. Pending were the bribery allegations against the prosecution, police and Roh administration from the Samsung slush funds. Then Roh got caught up with taking classified documents out of the Blue House computers, but tried to wiggle out of it by giving back the discs of info, but retaining the computers. Pending charges from the National Archives -- and investigation continues. (On-going)
  
  
• Lee Myeong-Bak: Conservative CEO Reformist -- Lee starts his administration in Feb 2008 with complete revamping of the government -- including shutting down ministries, reducing the Prime Minister's power, centralizing power in the Blue House, trashing the Ministry of Education policies, opening the doors to big business (with some restraints) -- and most importantly eliminating the Unification Ministry with its close ties to North Korea. Massive changes are due in the society from his actions but no one knows what will happen. He backed off his Grand Canal scheme under pressure of the anti-US beef protests. However, he is continuing with his anti-progressive witchhunt with a vengeance. He was replacing all of Roh's appointees one-by-one and started with the media units first. He is putting an end to government by committee and forcing all of Roh's appointees to resign. The only one he has not cleaned out is the NHRCK -- which he wants put under his office. (On-going)
  
  
• Tokdo is OURS!!! (2005)
• Tokdo is OURS!!! (2006)
• Tokdo is OURS!!! (2007-Present) -- The on-going international feud between Japan and Korea that started in 1954 -- and continues till today. In 2008, the issue flared up again in Jul 2008 over the instructions added by the Japanese to a middle school teachers' guide. Korea created a furor by interfering in the redesignation of "Dokdo" to "Liancourt Rocks" by the Library of Congress. Japan has started its moves to publicize its ownership of the islet by posting the Ministry of Maritime Tokdo site in multiple languages -- while Koreans have gone international as well in a rather amateurish fashion. (On-going)
  
  
• Barack Obama: A Historic President or an Ursurper? -- Index for the Section on the 44th President of the United States who is attempting to turn America into a Socialist State. Chronologically covers his clouded background, unresolved election issues, the historic election, the muddled transition, and the takeover of America in an attempt to turn it into a Socialist State -- and the on-going fight to reveal his past.
  
  

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email to:kalani@kalaniosullivan.com

Since 1 January 2002