ALL’S SEMI-OK IN THE ROK

With oil prices collapsing, the citizens of the Republic of Korea (ROK)—totally dependent on foreign oil to run their highly successful industrial machine—ought to be rejoicing. South Koreans generated a per-capita income of more than $2,000 last year (compared to $600 in the Philippines) and product quality that has even the Japanese worried. Instead, domestic unrest throbs in the southern half of the Korean peninsula. Members of the New Korea Democratic Party (NKDP), a coalition led by Kim Dae Jung and Kim Young Sam, are trying to collect ten million signatures in a petition drive to reform the ROK’s constitution (adopted October 1980) so that South Koreans may elect their president directly instead of through an electoral college. If electoral procedures were so changed, President Chun Doo Hwan would probably fall from power. Understandably, Chun is opposed to immediate constitutional reform, offering instead the promise of reforms after he leaves office in early 1988.

JM

About the Author

John McLaughlin

Featured Tags

Manage following

South Korea

ALL’S SEMI-OK IN THE ROK

With oil prices collapsing, the citizens of the Republic of Korea (ROK)—totally dependent on foreign oil to run their highly successful industrial machine—ought to be rejoicing. South Koreans generated a per-capita income of more than $2,000 last year (compared to $600 in the Philippines) and product quality that has even the Japanese worried. Instead, domestic unrest throbs in the southern half of the Korean peninsula. Members of the New Korea Democratic Party (NKDP), a coalition led by Kim Dae Jung and Kim Young Sam, are trying to collect ten million signatures in a petition drive to reform the ROK’s constitution (adopted October 1980) so that South Koreans may elect their president directly instead of through an electoral college. If electoral procedures were so changed, President Chun Doo Hwan would probably fall from power. Understandably, Chun is opposed to immediate constitutional reform, offering instead the promise of reforms after he leaves office in early 1988.