ID :
47596
Wed, 02/25/2009 - 22:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/47596
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President marks quiet first year anniversary amid economic woes
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Yonhap) -- Weighed down by the unfolding economic crisis, President Lee Myung-bak kept festivities marking the first year anniversary of his government to a minimum Wednesday, saying celebrations can begin after his successful five year term.
The only treat for the president was to be a dinner with his ministers later
Wednesday, following a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae,
according to Cheong Wa Dae officials.
"The past year was a very important one. We worked hard but made many mistakes.
What is important is that we must not repeat the same mistake twice," the
president was quoted as saying in a weekly meeting with his top advisers and
secretaries.
"We must not dwell on what happened over the past year because we will be judged
by how we do throughout our five-year term," Lee said, according to his spokesman
Lee Dong-kwan.
President Lee was inaugurated one year ago after winning with the largest ever
margin in the country's electoral history. He started his term with an approval
rating of close to 60 percent. His election marked the return of conservative
rule after 10 years of liberal governments in South Korea.
His ratings have since plunged, dipping to as low as 10 percent after he agreed
to lift a five-year-old ban on U.S. beef imports shortly after his inauguration
despite strong public opposition over fears of mad cow disease. His ratings
currently hover around 30 percent.
Coincidence or not, President Lee came in on Wednesday wearing the same jade blue
tie he wore for the swearing-in ceremony.
Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for the president, said earlier there would be no
anniversary celebrations, partly because no other country observes such an
occasion.
That, however, did not stop the presidential office from promoting what it
claimed to be Lee's achievements during his first year in office, one of which
included the country's winning of 13 gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Summer
Olympic Games.
"We must accept criticism, but we must not be swayed by a few critical
evaluations," the president was quoted as saying.
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Yonhap) -- Weighed down by the unfolding economic crisis, President Lee Myung-bak kept festivities marking the first year anniversary of his government to a minimum Wednesday, saying celebrations can begin after his successful five year term.
The only treat for the president was to be a dinner with his ministers later
Wednesday, following a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae,
according to Cheong Wa Dae officials.
"The past year was a very important one. We worked hard but made many mistakes.
What is important is that we must not repeat the same mistake twice," the
president was quoted as saying in a weekly meeting with his top advisers and
secretaries.
"We must not dwell on what happened over the past year because we will be judged
by how we do throughout our five-year term," Lee said, according to his spokesman
Lee Dong-kwan.
President Lee was inaugurated one year ago after winning with the largest ever
margin in the country's electoral history. He started his term with an approval
rating of close to 60 percent. His election marked the return of conservative
rule after 10 years of liberal governments in South Korea.
His ratings have since plunged, dipping to as low as 10 percent after he agreed
to lift a five-year-old ban on U.S. beef imports shortly after his inauguration
despite strong public opposition over fears of mad cow disease. His ratings
currently hover around 30 percent.
Coincidence or not, President Lee came in on Wednesday wearing the same jade blue
tie he wore for the swearing-in ceremony.
Kim Eun-hye, a spokeswoman for the president, said earlier there would be no
anniversary celebrations, partly because no other country observes such an
occasion.
That, however, did not stop the presidential office from promoting what it
claimed to be Lee's achievements during his first year in office, one of which
included the country's winning of 13 gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Summer
Olympic Games.
"We must accept criticism, but we must not be swayed by a few critical
evaluations," the president was quoted as saying.
