Congratulations to South Korea's first ever woman leader! She will show the world that women can be as gutsy and visionary as male politicos! Best wishes to the people of dynamic South Korea.
Can President Park Geun-hye help rein in or nudge reforms in hostile neighbor North Korea? Can she also persuade the political leaders and people of Japan to not embrace rightwing politics and come to terms with Japan's controversial colonial past like postwar Germany did, in order to help build a brighter future for East Asia? I personally have high hopes and great respect for South Korea's new leader.
(Photo below from reuters.com)
(Image below sourced from forums.allkpop.com)
Here's a news report from Reuters news agency:
South Korea's president-elect, Park Geun-hye, used her first major speech yesterday to warn of the risks posed by a hostile North Korea and also fired a political shot across the bows of Japan's incoming prime minister, Shinzo Abe.
Speaking after a visit to the national cemetery, which included a poignant homage at the graves of her assassinated father and mother, the country's first woman leader pledged to spread wealth more evenly.
Park has said she will hold talks with North Korea and resume aid to the isolated and belligerent country, but only if it abandons its nuclear weapons programme. The impoverished North launched a rocket last week that critics said was a test for technology that could be used for a long-range missile that could one day carry a nuclear warhead.
"North Korea's long-range missile launch showed how grave the security reality is that we are faced with," Park said a day after her convincing election win.
She will take office in February and signalled she would continue outgoing Lee Myung-bak's tough line on territorial claims that Japan has on South Korea.
South Korea says Japan, which has similar disputes with China, has not come to terms with its harsh past rule of Korea. Japan says it has paid compensation for the slavery issue and has apologised.
"I will try to work for greater reconciliation, co-operation and peace in Northeast Asia based on a correct perception of history," she said, in an apparent reference to the conflict with Tokyo.
Park, 60, will replace fellow conservative Lee after his single five-year term ends. The slightly built and elegant Park grew up in Seoul's presidential palace during the 18-year rule of her father, Park Chung-hee, who took power in a military coup in 1961.
Park on Tuesday called for national "reconciliation" and pledged again to share wealth more evenly, but offered no clues about how she would implement policies. She is likely to face protests from South Korea's vocal left, angry at the rise to power of the daughter of a man they believe was a repressive dictator.
"This will be a tremendous burden on her ability to govern," political commentator Yu Chang-seon said of Park's heritage. "It effectively means that she could be in direct conflict with half of society ... The first six months will be key."
Can President Park Geun-hye help rein in or nudge reforms in hostile neighbor North Korea? Can she also persuade the political leaders and people of Japan to not embrace rightwing politics and come to terms with Japan's controversial colonial past like postwar Germany did, in order to help build a brighter future for East Asia? I personally have high hopes and great respect for South Korea's new leader.
(Photo below from reuters.com)
(Image below sourced from forums.allkpop.com)
Here's a news report from Reuters news agency:
Park Geun-hye wastes no time in addressing Japan and North Korea
First woman president takes tough line while promising to spread wealth more evenly
Friday, 21 December, 2012, 12:00 am
Park Geun-hye bows to the nation yesterday. Photo: AP
South Korea's president-elect, Park Geun-hye, used her first major speech yesterday to warn of the risks posed by a hostile North Korea and also fired a political shot across the bows of Japan's incoming prime minister, Shinzo Abe.
Speaking after a visit to the national cemetery, which included a poignant homage at the graves of her assassinated father and mother, the country's first woman leader pledged to spread wealth more evenly.
Park has said she will hold talks with North Korea and resume aid to the isolated and belligerent country, but only if it abandons its nuclear weapons programme. The impoverished North launched a rocket last week that critics said was a test for technology that could be used for a long-range missile that could one day carry a nuclear warhead.
"North Korea's long-range missile launch showed how grave the security reality is that we are faced with," Park said a day after her convincing election win.
She will take office in February and signalled she would continue outgoing Lee Myung-bak's tough line on territorial claims that Japan has on South Korea.
South Korea says Japan, which has similar disputes with China, has not come to terms with its harsh past rule of Korea. Japan says it has paid compensation for the slavery issue and has apologised.
"I will try to work for greater reconciliation, co-operation and peace in Northeast Asia based on a correct perception of history," she said, in an apparent reference to the conflict with Tokyo.
Park, 60, will replace fellow conservative Lee after his single five-year term ends. The slightly built and elegant Park grew up in Seoul's presidential palace during the 18-year rule of her father, Park Chung-hee, who took power in a military coup in 1961.
Park on Tuesday called for national "reconciliation" and pledged again to share wealth more evenly, but offered no clues about how she would implement policies. She is likely to face protests from South Korea's vocal left, angry at the rise to power of the daughter of a man they believe was a repressive dictator.
"This will be a tremendous burden on her ability to govern," political commentator Yu Chang-seon said of Park's heritage. "It effectively means that she could be in direct conflict with half of society ... The first six months will be key."
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