Tired and thinner, Kim works to regain esteem

Looking thin and worn down, President Kim Dae-jung bowed his head to express his "great shock" and apology for the number of his aides and other senior government officials who have been involved in series of financial scandals involving start-up companies, a sector highly touted by Mr. Kim during his administration.

He projected a demeanor of humility not only while discussing official corruption, but also in his remarks on politics, education, inter-Korean relations and his personnel appointments, which critics say are biased toward his home area in southwest Korea. That was a stark contrast to his forceful rhetoric at last year's press conference, when he spoke of a "strong government and strong presidency."

Political observers said the low-key remarks stem from his acceptance of political reality; his power is slipping as he enters the last year of his term, and his prosecutor-general had to resign his office midway in his two-year tenure.

As he spoke during the 70-minute-long press conference, Mr. Kim's voice was hoarse and sometimes cracked; under his eyes were prominent bags. Presidential aides said Mr. Kim barely got any sleep the night before his appearance because of the prosecutor-general's resignation. In a 20-minute speech that aides said he wrote himself, Mr. Kim vowed to combat corruption and improve the lives of lower-income Koreans.

His speech included three apologies for the scandals that have tainted his administration. He also apologized to students and parents about the difficulty of the mathematics section of last year's College Scholastic Ability Test. In total, Mr. Kim offered six apologies.

Observers said the apologetic tone was an effort to salvage what he can of public confidence in his governing team. Rather than putting forward new ideas, he also attempted to play up the results of his economic recovery policies and gains in social welfare made during the past four years of his administration.

by Chun Young-gi