Testing time arrives for South Korea's Lee Myung-bak

For some time now, the refusal of the legislature to support major policy initiatives has hobbled his government. After a crushing defeat in the June 2 local elections, Lee began shoring up his beleaguered administration, naming a new chief of staff and convincing the ruling conservative Grand National Party (GNP) to elect a loyal supporter as party chairman.

But a disastrous Cabinet reshuffle last month has once again focused attention on the president's weaknesses. On Aug. 29, less than three weeks after being nominated as prime minister, former South Gyeonsang provincial governor Kim Tae-ho declined the post after lawmakers charged that he had evaded taxes and accepted bribes. President Lee's choices to head the Knowledge Economy and Culture ministries also backed out after facing similar accusations. Late last week, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan offered to resign over accusations that he helped his daughter get a ministry job.

Some observers argue that these setbacks demonstrate that South Korean society now imposes stricter standards on high-ranking officials. Hopefully, they are right. South Korean politics has been plagued with corruption scandals for far too long.

Corruption allegations aside, however, President Lee's decision to name Kim as his preferred choice for prime minister was a risky one. The president has long been accused of ignoring regional sensitivities by choosing political appointees from the nation's southeast, an area widely known as a GNP stronghold.

The president's next choice of prime minister will be crucial. If Lee fails again, his lame duck status will become even more apparent. This may provide some comfort to the president's political opponents, but it will hardly be good for the country.

Strong and effective government is needed if South Korea is to take full advantage of the opportunities arising from the global economic recovery.

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