Chong Wa Dae to Discipline Foreign Ministry Officials for Belittling Roh



By Shim Jae-yun and Seo Soo-min
Staff Reporters
Chong Wa Dae is set to take disciplinary action against a number of officials at the North America Bureau of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry for allegedly making disparaging remarks about President Roh Moo-hyun and his policy toward the United States.

``Through investigations into the allegations, we have confirmed that some Foreign Ministry officials have made some intolerable remarks,’’ presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said in a briefing on Monday. It appears inevitable that some of the officials will face punitive action.

However, the presidential office’s get-tough policy is already causing some officials to worry about the repercussions that it would have on ROK-U.S. relations, since those who will get the ax are in charge of working-level negotiations with the U.S. over outstanding bilateral issues. It is also observed that the Foreign Ministry may see its influence in foreign policy decisions reduced, while strengthening the role of Deputy National Security Advisor Lee Jong-seok, a critic of the U.S.

Half a dozen officials at the North American Affairs Bureau, from director-general Wi Sung-lac to younger assistant directors, were questioned by officials from Chong Wa Dae and the National Intelligence Service last week.

The investigations were prompted by a letter from a whistle-blower that said a certain senior Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry official dealing with sensitive U.S. issues openly opposed the government’s policy and strongly criticized presidential staffers. According to sources, the letter quoted a Foreign Ministry official as saying during a private function, ``The Grand National Party (GNP) will win April 15 general elections, leaving President Roh only in charge of the Science-Technology Ministry and Maritime Affairs-Fisheries Ministry.’’

The letter quoted another official as saying that he agreed to GNP floor leader Hong Sa-duk’s controversial remark that Roh’s supporters are the same ones who are sympathetic to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

In addition to investigating the official, Chong Wa Dae is also trying to determine whether the officials failed to properly deal with the negotiations with Washington over U.S. forces realignment and the additional troop dispatch to Iraq.

The ministry officials who engaged in negotiations on the U.S. troops relocation have come under fire for having failed to extract more concessions from the U.S. side notably in terms of relocation cost as the U.S. is also eager to move the base out of Seoul as part of its global realignment plan.

An initial inspection last month concluded, however, that the officials made no major blunders on the issue.

Chong Wa Dae staffers have also been casting doubts on some senior Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry officials regarding their possible contacts with the media after stories on conflict between the presidential office and career diplomats continued to be leaked to the conservative press.

Some believe the inspections, if widened, could lead to a drastic change in the foreign ministry, including the sacking of senior officials dealing with key issues such as the North Korean nuclear crisis.

However, others think the repercussions may not be serious, pointing out to respect and partnership between career diplomats at the Foreign Ministry and the young reform-minded Chong Wa Dae officials that has developed over the last year.

The mood between officials from Chong Wa Dae and the foreign ministry at year-end parties last month has remained amicable, according to ministry insiders, in contrast to the icy ties created by the troop dispatch dispute.

jayshim@koreatimes.co.kr