Koreans welcome new U.S. leader

	Koreans welcome new U.S. leader
	Koreans hailed America for making history by choosing Barack Obama as its first black president. But expectations were mixed over the changes that the next U.S. leader would bring to the peninsula. Liberal-minded Koreans were highly hopeful that he will put an end to unilateralism in U.S. foreign policy and deliver sweeping reforms to unbridled Wall Street capitalism. They had more hope for peninsular peace from the Democratic administration, which prioritizes dialogue in dealing with North Korea. Government and ruling party officials are bracing for a likely shift in U.S. policies on Pyongyang and trade ties with Seoul. Conservative commentators expressed concern about progressive values that are being newly inspired by the liberal president-elect. Many Koreans yesterday sat glued to the TV and the internet watching votes coming in for the historic election. "Obama's ascendancy means not only a change of hands in the White House, but an end to decades of neo-liberalism and an epochal turn to a compassionate capitalism and a society where more diverse values are respected, " said Kim Kyung-hee, a 43-year-old IT businesswoman. Internet bulletin boards were deluged with messages congratulating Obama and Americans for, in a writer's words, "for beginning to rewrite their history." President Lee Myung-bak and political leaders welcomed Obama's election, expressing hopes for strengthening ties between the two allies. "President Lee Myung-bak sent a congratulatory message to both President-elect Obama and his running mate Joe Biden and expressed hope for further development of bilateral relations between Korea and the United States," Lee's spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said. "Obama's election victory is a result of the American people's support for new changes and hope," The spokesman noted that both Lee and Obama have pursued "change and reform" as their key political value. "With his election, we are sure that our future-oriented alliance will be further upgraded," he added. Policymakers expect no major changes in overall relations between the two countries. But Obama is expected to shift the course in dealing with North Korea and the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. He has advocated "aggressive, sustained and direct diplomacy" with the North, even indicating his willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il if conditions mature. Liberals welcomed his position as boosting hope for a peaceful end to the Pyongyang regime's nuclear ambition and reconciliation on the divided peninsula. "The election of Obama will provide President Lee an opportunity to break the ice with Pyongyang and restore inter-Korean dialogue," said Lim Dong-won, a main architect of former President Kim Dae-jung's "sunshine policy" for engaging the communist neighbor. Korea and the United States are facing a rough road ahead before putting their bilateral FTA in effect. Obama and his aides several times expressed skepticism toward the Korea-U.S. FTA, calling for a renegotiation to reduce damage to American carmakers. An Obama adviser said last week his new administration would submit the trade bill early next year, but with several preconditions, including a wider access by U.S. cars to the Korean market. The Seoul government yesterday reaffirmed that it was unwilling to redraft the deal which was reached in April 2007 and awaits ratification of legislature of both countries. "Part of the pact may not be good for one side, but the free trade deal is a balanced agreement which reflects the interests of both sides," Lee Hye-min, deputy minister for the FTA, told reporters. "It's the government's basic position that renegotiation is difficult," he said. "It not only goes against international customs but it's also inappropriate." Both ruling and opposition parties welcomed his election and moved quickly to try to build connections with U.S. Democrats. A group of legislators will fly to Washington from Nov. 17 to meet with aides of the next U.S. president to discuss pending issues between the two countries. Park Jin of the ruling Grand National Party will lead the parliamentary delegation. They will meet Democrats, including Biden and former Ambassador to Korea Donald Gregg, as well as Republican legislators. "We will try to convince them of the urgency of the Korea-U.S. FTA and discuss ways of improving relationship between the two countries under the new administration," a GNP official said. By Hwang Jang-jin (jjhwang@heraldm.com) 2008.11.06