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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 SEOUL 000320 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; FEBRUARY 26, 2010 
 
TOP HEADLINES 
------------- 
 
Chosun Ilbo 
Universities Have Received Billions of Won Annually 
from On-Campus Banks, while Disallowing Credit Card Payment of 
Tuition Fees 
 
JoongAng Ilbo 
Full Investigation Begins into Educational Corruption 
and Irregularities in College Admissions 
 
Dong-a Ilbo 
Overseas Travel Ban Imposed on Former Head of Seoul Education Office 
in Money-for-Promotion Probe 
 
Hankook Ilbo 
Some 250 Middle School Seniors Involved in Admission Scandals 
Involving Private Autonomous High Schools 
 
Hankyoreh Shinmun, Segye Ilbo, All TVs 
Top Court Upholds Capital Punishment in 5-4 Split Decision 
 
Seoul Shinmun 
President Lee Calls for Constitutional Revision on Limited Basis 
 
 
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
Visiting U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen 
Bosworth discussed ways to resume the Six-Party Talks yesterday with 
chief ROK nuclear negotiator, Wi Sung-lac. (Dong-a, Hankyoreh, all 
TVs) 
 
The National Assembly yesterday passed a motion to dispatch 350 ROK 
troops to Afghanistan on a mission to protect civilian 
reconstruction workers in the war-torn country. Lawmakers of 
opposition parties walked out of the Assembly in protest of the 
deployment. (All) 
 
The Unification Ministry yesterday disclosed a revised version of 
the "Basic Plan for Inter-Korean Relations," which was adopted by 
the former Roh Moo-hyun Administration. The revised version seeks to 
expand inter-Korean economic cooperation only if North Korea decides 
to give up its nuclear program. (Chosun, Hankook, Hankyoreh) 
 
 
MEDIA ANALYSIS 
-------------- 
 
-N. Korea 
--------- 
Most ROK media covered yesterday's arrival in Seoul of Special 
Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth, quoting him 
as saying upon arrival: "We are prepared to resume the Six-Party 
Talks in the very near future."  According to media reports, 
Ambassador Bosworth and chief ROK nuclear negotiator Wi Sung-lac 
discussed ways to resume the Six-Party Talks. 
 
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo carried an op-ed that said: "While the 
greatest military challenge facing the U.S. is (the war in) 
Afghanistan, its greatest diplomatic challenge is to deter Iran from 
developing nuclear weapons.  Whenever the Obama Administration gives 
warnings about Iran, it typically mentions North Korea 
(simultaneously).  As such, if the U.S. shows any sign of ignoring 
the North's nuclear development, such an action will immediately 
prompt Iran to misjudge that it is okay to continue its nuclear 
development.  This is why the ROKG is closely watching developments 
surrounding the Iranian (nuclear) issue.  ... We (Korea) most likely 
have a stronger desire than Ambassador Bosworth to see peace on the 
Korean Peninsula by engaging North Korea.  However ... a cool-headed 
 
SEOUL 00000320  002 OF 006 
 
 
approach is required when dealing with North Korea." 
 
-Afghanistan 
------------ 
All ROK media reported on yesterday's passage by the National 
Assembly of a motion to dispatch 350 ROK troops to Afghanistan, 
despite protests from opposition parties.  According to media 
reports, the troops will be sent to Parwan Province in July, with a 
two-and-a-half-year mandate to protect ROK civilian reconstruction 
workers there. 
 
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized: "The deployment 
decision is a far cry from the current state of affairs in the 
international community. ... Far from rooting out terrorism, the war 
and occupation (in Afghanistan) is intensifying resistance from 
local militants.  Accordingly, the U.S. announced plans to start 
withdrawing troops next year. ... Civilian provincial reconstruction 
team (PRT) workers have been targets of attack because militants 
treat them the same as occupying forces. ... With this decision (to 
send troops to Afghanistan), ROK citizens, as well as the troops 
deployed, will face an even greater danger of being attacked." 
 
 
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS 
------------------- 
 
ADDED VALUE OF AFGHAN TROOP DISPATCH 
(JoongAng Ilbo, February 26, 2010, Page 35; Excerpts) 
 
By Senior International Affairs Columnist Kim Young-hie 
 
In a plenary session of the Korean National Assembly yesterday, a 
bill was passed to deploy troops to Afghanistan.  Why do we have to 
send our young troops to a faraway land in West Asia, a nation which 
we think we have no direct interest in?  We can find an answer by 
looking back to the Korean War, which marks its 60th anniversary 
this year.  During the war, it was troops from 16 nations that saved 
the ROK from a desperately dangerous situation.  Those 16 nations 
combined sent a total of 930,000 troops annually over the course of 
three years to prevent the ROK from being communized.  The ROK in 
the 1950s was most likely stranger to the 16 nations than 
Afghanistan is to us.  At that time, the ROK was a new nation 
founded only two years following its liberation from Japan five 
years earlier. 
 
To the opponents of troop dispatch to Afghanistan, I would say that 
the U.S. spent over USD 30 billion (USD 320 billion when adjusted to 
2008 prices) on the Korean War and sent the ROK approximately 
480,000 troops, of which 54,000 were killed in battle.  Opponents 
might respond, "That is because the Korean War was effectively a 
U.S. war."  Then, why did the other 15 countries send their troops? 
To see many of them killed in the battlefields?  Since they shared 
the great cause of defending freedom and peace, a large number of 
troops were sent to the Korean War despite the fact that there would 
be many victims. 
 
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, we now 
have an opportunity to repay the debt of lives, which a poor and 
weak Korea owed to the international community six decades ago, by 
sending our troops to Afghanistan.  The ROK's per-capital income has 
soared from USD 67 to over USD 20,000, and its Gross Domestic 
Production (GDP), which stood at USD 1.3 billion, is estimated at 
USD 1 trillion this year.  Noblesse Oblige, a French phrase meaning 
"Privilege entails responsibility" is applied not only to 
individuals but also to nations.  As a developed country set to host 
the G20 summit (this year), the ROK should not hesitate to hold out 
a helping hand to the war-ravaged country as it seeks economic and 
social reconstruction and improvement of living conditions (there). 
 
However, if we send our troops to Afghanistan only to repay the debt 
from the Korean War and carry out our moral responsibility, it will 
be a loss of opportunity.  We should create the best "added value" 
from the Afghan troop dispatch.  The soldiers to be deployed are 
outstanding youth selected on a competition rate of 10 to 1.  The 
 
SEOUL 00000320  003 OF 006 
 
 
troop dispatch could prove an opportunity for them and 150 members 
of the Provincial Reconstruction Team to become experts on 
Afghanistan and the West Asian region, as well as top employees of 
companies which will enter the region.  If only 10 to 50 of them 
become experts or corporate employees specializing in the region, it 
will be a precious "added value" of the deployment. 
 
Before sending troops to Afghanistan, we need to educate them about 
international politics and economics surrounding Afghanistan, 
various conflicts of interest among major countries (over the 
region), and the civilization and culture of West Asia.  If our 
soldiers take this Afghan deployment as an opportunity to open their 
eyes to a new part of the world, and stimulate their adventurism and 
pioneer spirit so that Afghanistan and West Asia become a main 
pillar of their and the ROK's future, the troop dispatch will be 
producing significantly more "added value." 
 
 
POWER OF OBAMA-STYLE N. KOREA SANCTIONS 
(JoongAng Ilbo, February 26, Page 34) 
 
By Deputy Political Affairs Editor Kang Chan-ho 
 
Former U.S. President George W. Bush, who served from 2001 to 2009, 
called North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, "an axis of evil" or "a 
pigmy."  However, his actions were the opposite (of his words.) 
President Bush removed North Korea from the list of state sponsors 
of terrorism to which the Reagan Administration had added them 
twenty years ago when his father, former President George H. W. 
Bush, served as Vice President.  President George W. Bush also 
returned to Kim 24 million dollars (USD) in personal funds that were 
confiscated by the U.S. Department of Treasury.  During his final 
term in office, he (President George W. Bush) even delivered Kim a 
letter that began with "Dear Mr. Chairman." 
 
Even though President Bush disliked North Korea, he did not consider 
North Korea an urgent policy issue.  Rather, he established the 
Six-Party Talks framework involving China as a host, and attempted 
to block North Korean (activists).  However, following the North's 
nuclear test in 2006, Bush softened his stance by giving carte 
blanche to dovish Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill. 
But his diplomacy ended in failure according to Jack Pritchard, 
former U.S. Envoy to North Korea during the Bush Administration. 
Bush did not run into any political difficulty due to his strong 
ideological base.  What dealt a blow to him was a financial crisis 
that hit the U.S. during his final term in office. 
 
President Obama is taking an approach opposite to that of President 
George W. Bush.  He does not speak in a hostile way toward North 
Korea.  However, sanctions the Obama Administration has imposed on 
the North due to its second nuclear test in May are considered more 
stringent and effective.  Even though North Korea says pleadingly, 
"We will return to the Six-Party Talks if sanctions are lifted and a 
peace treaty is signed," Obama has not budged an inch. 
 
Why is Obama taking this approach toward North Korea?  First, 
President Obama has a weak political and ideological base. 
According to a recent Gallop poll, 61 percent of Americans think 
that North Korea poses a serious threat.  As such, President Obama 
has a limited range of soft measures that he can implement because 
he needs to embrace conservatives as his supporters.  On the 
diplomatic front, he should also be mindful of Iran's (nuclear 
development.)  While the greatest military challenge facing the U.S. 
is (the war in) Afghanistan, its greatest diplomatic challenge is to 
deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons.  Whenever the Obama 
Administration gives warnings about Iran, it typically mentions 
North Korea (simultaneously).  As such, if the U.S. shows any sign 
of ignoring the North's nuclear development, such an action will 
immediately prompt Iran to misjudge that it is okay to continue its 
nuclear development.  This is why the ROKG is closely watching 
developments surrounding the Iranian (nuclear) issue. 
 
The ROK's pro-North Korea leftists, who have misjudged President 
Obama, seem to be counting on U.S. Special Representative for North 
 
SEOUL 00000320  004 OF 006 
 
 
Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth, who is also known as a "dove." 
However, if North Korea, which staged two nuclear tests, keeps 
insisting on unreasonable demands such as lifting sanctions and a 
peace treaty with the U.S., it will be hard for Ambassador Bosworth 
to persuade Secretary of State Clinton and other non-proliferation 
officials (to take a soft line on North Korea.)  Appearing on a TV 
talk show last month, Bosworth said that Kim Jong-il is not insane 
and he truly believes that the U.S. can engage North Korea.  We most 
likely have a stronger desire than Ambassador Bosworth to see peace 
on the Korean Peninsula by engaging North Korea.  However, a warm 
heart alone is not enough. Rather, a cool-headed approach is 
required when dealing with North Korea. 
 
 
UNILATERAL TROOP REDEPLOYMENT DECISION SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN 
(Hankyoreh Shinmun, February 26, Page 31) 
 
Yesterday, on the second anniversary of the inauguration of 
President Lee Myung-bak, the Lee Administration and ruling Grand 
National Party (GNP) unilaterally passed a bill in the National 
Assembly approving the redeployment of troops to Afghanistan, 
sending our officers and troops into an extremely dangerous area. 
This was pushed through without sufficient discussion over the 
matter in which the lives and safety of the people and the nation's 
credibility rests.  This is anti-democratic and anti-citizen 
behavior that reveals rashness, in addition to arrogance and 
self-righteousness. 
 
The decision is a clear reversal of a previous agreement.  In 2007, 
the government promised to both domestic and international audiences 
that it would withdraw from Afghanistan, and by the end of that year 
Korean engineering and medical units were completely withdrawn. 
This decision was reached after the kidnapping of 23 South Korean 
civilians, of which two died. Prior to this, sergeant Yoon Jang-ho 
was also killed.  In the process, we learned the costly lesson that 
our unjustified dispatch of troops came at a great cost and resulted 
in a great deal of pain.  Yesterday, however, the Lee government 
completely reversed this agreement.  Naturally, we worry about the 
possible loss of our nation's credibility. 
 
The deployment decision is a far cry from the current state of 
affairs in the international community.  Recently, the number of 
deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan has been on the rise, and the 
issue of civilian deaths is becoming even more serious.  Far from 
rooting out terrorism, the war and occupation (in Afghanistan) is 
intensifying resistance from local militants.  Accordingly, the U.S. 
announced plans to start withdrawing troops next year.  In this 
situation, we are the only country in the world planning to redeploy 
troops.  We cannot help but ask whether the Lee government is 
ignorant of the situation or is merely closing its eyes to please 
the U.S. 
 
The Lee government claimed it would organize a provincial 
reconstruction team (PRT), in which civilian workers would be sent 
to perform humanitarian activities, while the military component 
would engage in only protection duty.  However, civilian provincial 
reconstruction team (PRT) workers have been targets of attack 
because militants treat them the same as occupying forces.  In early 
November of last year, when news broke that our government was 
planning to redeploy troops to Afghanistan, an armed group attacked 
the construction site of a Korean company.  Despite this, the Lee 
government, without revealing the specifics of their plan, has 
pushed for the redeployment.  With this decision (to send troops to 
Afghanistan), ROK citizens, as well as the troops deployed, will 
face an even greater danger of being attacked. 
 
The period of deployment in yesterday's bill of two years and six 
months is also uncharacteristically.  In a situation in which it 
would be insufficient even if annual parliamentary reports and 
approvals were issued as a result of confusion and danger on the 
ground, the Lee government has been issued a blank check.  Moreover, 
the GNP has not held a single public hearing about the redeployment, 
and has also rendered powerless parliamentary debate.  The Lee 
government must withdraw its decision to redeploy troops to 
 
SEOUL 00000320  005 OF 006 
 
 
Afghanistan. 
 
(This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is 
identical to the Korean version.) 
 
 
FEATURES 
-------- 
 
U.S. FORCES' "OTHER WAR" (IN AFGHANISTAN) 
(Chosun Ilbo, February 26, Page 7) 
 
By Washington Correspondent Lee Ha-won 
 
On February 24, an opening ceremony for the addition of a vinyl 
house and irrigation facilities was held, with the U.S.'s Mine 
Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles standing guard, at an 
agricultural training center of the Provincial Agriculture 
Department in Charikar, the capital of Parwan, Afghanistan.  This 
place is about a 5-minute drive from an area where the ROK's 
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) will be stationed. 
 
Parwan Governor Basir Salangi and Lieutenant Graves from the 
Agricultural Development Team (ADT) at Bagram Air Base cut the 
(ceremonial) tape in front of the green-roofed vinyl house, drawing 
applause from the audience.  Governor Salangi and 50 other 
influential officials joyfully passed through the vinyl house under 
which the irrigation facilities are installed. 
 
Looking around a water tank and a pump set up just beside the vinyl 
house, they showed an expression of satisfaction.  Commanding 
officer, Lieutenant Graves, presented a certificate of appreciation 
to Ab Lazak Kohistani, President of Jamashal, the Afghan company 
which constructed these facilities.  Governor Salangi also expressed 
his appreciation to the U.S. for building the great facilities. 
 
These facilities, which were constructed by the U.S. forces at a 
cost of USD 68,000, are not substantial in size.  The facilities 
only include a 20-meter vinyl house and a small water tank installed 
over 10 meters above ground. 
 
However, local residents and U.S. forces sought to find a future of 
hope through such facilities, which are rare in Afghanistan.  The 
irrigation facilities will serve 300 Afghan residents in this 
region.  However, the greater purpose is to use them as educational 
facilities and lift Afghan agricultural skill from its rudimentary 
stage.  Lieutenant Peterson, an agricultural expert from the ADT 
said, "We hope Afghan residents will properly acquire farming 
technology to sustain their lives." 
 
The ADT, which is in charge of this construction and agricultural 
assistance to Parwan, belongs to the Kentucky National Guard.  The 
team is in charge of Afghanistan's agricultural development and 
related education programs.  It teaches agricultural and livestock 
techniques, including how to plant seeds and use fertilizer. 
Sergeant Ramsey, who freely mingled with local residents on February 
24 while helping them make an Afghanistan traditional soup, teaches 
residents livestock techniques, drawing high popularity.  In 
addition to him, other U.S. soldiers with technical knowledge of 
agriculture, and officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
teach agricultural techniques every one or two weeks. 
 
The U.S. military regrets that local participation is not as high as 
expected.  Lt. Col. Graves said, "Since people are so busy eking out 
a living, technical education programs have moved to the back 
burner." 
 
These activities by the U.S. are part of its strategy to win the 
heart of Afghan residents.  In many regions in Afghanistan, 
including Parwan, the U.S. is focusing its efforts on teaching the 
Afghan people survival techniques.  By serving as a "mentor" to 
residents, the U.S. intends to end hostilities against the U.S. 
military and stabilize the situation.  A soldier of the ADT noted, 
"People outside of Afghanistan think that the U.S. is only waging 
 
SEOUL 00000320  006 OF 006 
 
 
war here.  In fact, however, we are paying much more attention to 
reconstruction in Afghanistan, which is rarely known." 
 
Behind these activities lie the U.S.'s future strategy to use 
Afghanistan as a stronghold for targeting Central Asia, the region 
called a "repository of resources."  The U.S. Geological Survey 
(USGS) has invested USD 17 million in searching Afghanistan, which 
is three times as large as the Korean Peninsula, for resources.  One 
study estimates that natural minerals, such as copper and iron ore, 
as well as oil and natural gas in Afghanistan are worth about USD 1 
trillion. 
 
 
TOKOLA