Cablegate: Seoul - Press Bulletin; January 11, 2010

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TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; JANUARY 11, 2010

TOP HEADLINES
-------------

Chosun Ilbo
School Chiefs Face Tough Evaluation; Underperforming Principals Will
Be Denied Reappointment and Face Demotion

JoongAng Ilbo
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief Vows to Make Public All
Candidates for Police Officer Promotion on the Internet

Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, Hankyoreh Shinmun,
Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs
Political Turmoil Looms Large over Sejong City;
ROKG to Unveil Sejong City Revision Plan Today,
with Opposition Parties and Pro-Park Geun-hye Faction
Strongly Opposing It

DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
----------------------

The ROKG has chosen a new site for ROK reconstruction workers and
troops to be deployed to Afghanistan. The site is a state-owned plot
located north of Charikar, capital of Parwan Province. (Dong-a,
Segye, Seoul, KBS)

A Korean businessman, after being punished in the ROK for bribing
U.S. public officials, was recently arrested and received a prison
sentence on the same charges in the U.S., sparking a controversy
over double punishment. (Hankook)

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
------------------

According to ROKG and EU diplomatic sources, on Dec. 22 of last
year, the EU slapped sanctions on key North Korean government
officials and companies related to the North's nuclear program. Jang
Song-taek, a brother-in-law of leader Kim Jong-il, and Kim
Yong-chun, minister of the People's Armed Forces, were among 13
individuals targeted by the EU. (All)

MEDIA ANALYSIS
--------------

President Obama's Remarks on Improving Security
Carrying the identical headline, "The Buck Stops with Me," most ROK
media on Saturday (Jan. 9) led their international news sections
with reports quoting President Barack Obama as saying in a Jan. 7
address regarding the attempted terror attack on Christmas Day: "For
ultimately, the buck stops with me. As President, I have a solemn
responsibility to protect our nation and our people. And when the
system fails, it is my responsibility."

Coverage was mostly straightforward. Conservative Chosun Ilbo noted
an AP report saying that it is very unprecedented for President
Obama, who has denounced President Bush's "war on terror" as an
exaggerated expression, to state that the U.S. is "at war against al
Qaeda." Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo's sub-head read: "Obama Gives
More Weight to Improving System than to Reprimanding Those
Responsible." Moderate Hankook Ilbo's sub-head read: "Obama Rejects
Calls for Firings of Top Spy Chiefs over Security Breakdown... He
Will Increase Investments in Homeland Security and Aviation
Security, Including $1 Billion in New Systems and Technologies"

-N. Korea
---------
Citing ROKG and EU diplomatic sources, all ROK media carried reports
that on Dec. 22 of last year, the EU slapped sanctions on key North
Korean government officials and companies related to the North's
nuclear program. According to media reports, Jang Song-taek, a

SEOUL 00000044 002 OF 002

brother-in-law of leader Kim Jong-il, and Kim Yong-chun, minister of
the People's Armed Forces, were among 13 individuals targeted by the
EU.

STEPHENS

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