Roh apologizes for aide in scandal

The reviews were mixed yesterday after a late-evening debate on Wednesday pitted President Roh Moo-hyun against six panelists.
Mr. Roh by turn sounded apologetic, optimistic, pragmatic and feisty as he talked about topics that included a corruption scandal, the economy, relations with North Korea and with the United States and the travails of dealing with the Korean press.
Spin doctors were at work quickly yesterday to interpret his performance. The Blue House cited a telephone poll of over a thousand Koreans who watched the program, citing its finding that more than four out of five viewers said they understood the president better after his televised appearance. The opposition Grand National Party said the performance was a flop and that the president gave out a string of excuses.
The president’s comments during the debate, actually more of a question-and-answer performance, were mostly general in nature.
He said he was sorry for the involvement of an associate, Ahn Hee-jung, in accusations of having turned a business investment into political funds. “I confess I found it unbearable, and I offer my apology to the public,” he said.
Calling Mr. Ahn a “comrade,” the president said, “He did not work out of personal ambition. He worked for me and is going through this pain because of me.” He declined to answer further questions about the matter, citing the investigation by prosecutors.
Mr. Roh said he has no plans to try to meet with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, at the moment. “With North Korea and United States currently talking, it is important to keep the talks going. A meeting now with Chairman Kim Jong-il would not help,” he said.
A special counsel is now investigating whether there was a financial inducement from Seoul for the North to hold the first ― and, to date, only ― meeting of leaders of the two Koreas in 2000.
Mr. Roh’s predecessor, Kim Dae-jung, was also embarrassed by the failure of the North’s Mr. Kim to reciprocate with a trip here despite several public pleas by the president for him to honor his promise to visit.
Concerning the three-way talks among North Korea, the United States and China, he said, “It is more important to have our views reflected, rather than for us to take part in the dialogue.”
He also said the proposed relocation of the 37,000-strong U.S. forces in Korea was part of an overall review of the U.S. military presence overseas.
Regarding the appointments of Ko Young-koo, a human rights lawyer, to head the National Intelligence Service and Suh Dong-man, a North Korean expert with liberal views, to be the agency’s head of policy planning and coordination, he chose reform of the nation’s top intelligence agency over smooth relations with the opposition.
Giving a self-assessment of his first 50 days in the Blue House, Mr. Roh said, “It is difficult, but the difficulties were not unexpected.”

by Kim Ji-soo