Kim Facing Major Tests

Three days after the world and the nation celebrated the announcement from Norway, President Kim Dae-jung, now a Nobel Peace laureate, began his week Monday with domestic challenges that the prize will not affect.

"The Nobel Peace Prize gives the president a new enhanced leadership in both the international and domestic arena,'' said Im Hyug-baeg, a professor of political science at Korea University in Seoul.

"He is now a strong Asian leader, whose leadership will have more charisma with surrounding nations. Domestically, he will be called on to be a leader above partisan politics and one who must concentrate his efforts on economics and domestic issues."

Mr. Kim knows well the challenges that lie ahead, officials say. He also knows that the shine of the Nobel Peace Prize can easily fade, like the success of the June 15 inter-Korean summit meeting in the North, if he fails to tackle the economic and political problems that continue to face the country.

Critics of Mr. Kim charge that he proceeded too rapidly in his engagement with the North, spending time and energy that should have been devoted to issues at home.

"The Nobel Peace Prize, different from an Olympic gold medal, suggests a new beginning for me. I feel a bigger burden on my shoulders to resolve inter-Korean and economic issues," President Kim said in a three-hour news conference at the Blue House on Monday.

He cited five current challenges for his administration as the top priorities that he will pursue for the second half of his tenure, which will end in 2002.

They are achieving politics of constructive cooperation with the opposition, furthering democracy and human rights, promoting inter-Korean relations, building a strong globalized economy and ensuring a high quality of life.

The foremost challenges stem from the fragile economy, including the recent aborted sales of debt-ridden Daewoo Motors Co. and Hanbo Iron and Steel Co. The Hyundai Business Group, the No. 1 conglomerate in terms of assets, is the subject of speculation about its future - problem that would deal a big blow to the Korean economy.

Reflecting these instabilities, the Seoul Bourse failed to rise even in the wake of last Friday's announcement about Mr. Kim's prize, remaining at the mid-500 level.

The challenges Mr. Kim faces in domestic politics and inter-Korean relations have been aptly summed up in a column written by Huh Nam-jin, an editorial writer for the JoongAng-Ilbo.

He drew a parallel between Mr. Kim's Nobel Peace Prize and the same award in 1971 to Willy Brandt, then chancellor of West Germany, pointing out that both prizes came amid unprecedented rapprochement with former rival nations and a partisan standoff in domestic politics.

But the main difference between those situations, many analysts say, is that Mr. Kim lacks tolerance of the opposition party.

He also carries the burden of ensuring that the North is a responsible and reciprocal partner in the quest for Korean peace.

At Monday's news conference, Mr. Kim made a first gesture in this direction, saying that he "is sorry yet thankful for Chairman Kim Jong-il of the National Defense Commission." By that he meant that Kim Jong-il, whose cooperation made the rapprochement possible, was not similarly honored by the Nobel committee.

President Kim added that he will work on furthering inter-Korean relations in the spirit of the Peace Prize.

Putting aside all these political and economic challenges, analysts noted the undeniable pride and solemn tribute that the prize brings to the president and to the Korean people.

The president has been recognized in the past for his efforts in fighting for democracy and human rights. He won the Bruno Kreisky Human Rights Award in 1981; the George Meany Human Rights Award in 1987; the Union Theological Seminary Medal in New York in 1994 and the Philadelphia Liberty Medal in 1999.

The Peace Prize was widely regarded as a recognition of his patience, tenacity and commitment to human rights and democracy.

During his career, Mr. Kim suffered abduction attempts, 5 death threats, 55 house arrests, 6 years of imprisonment and 10 years of exile.