South Korean Presidency
Lee Myung-bak fue investido presidente de Corea del Sur el 25 de febrero de 2008, en una ceremonia a la que asistieron la secretaria de Estado de Estados Unidos, Condoleezza Rice, y el primer ministro japonés, Yasuo Fukuda, entre otros invitados.[29] En su primer discurso volvió a fijarse los objetivos marcados en la campaña electoral: el «plan 747» de reactivación económica, endurecer su posición respecto a Corea del Norte y conseguir que Corea del Sur sea un actor relevante en la escena internacional.
Los diferentes gobiernos de Lee se caracterizaron por el alto número de ministros independientes, sin vinculación al Gran Partido Nacional, por las disputas internas entre las facciones que apoyaban al presidente y los defensores de Park Geun-hye. Los primeros ministros a su cargo fueron Han Seung-soo (2008-2009), Chung Un-chan (2009-2010) y el juez Kim Hwang-sik (2010-2013).
Aunque se mantuvo fuerte dentro del GPN durante buena parte de la legislatura, la dimisión del alcalde de Seúl en 2011 provocó una crisis interna por la que Park se convirtió en la nueva líder. Mediante una refundación, el GPN pasó a llamarse Partido Saenuri y adoptó un programa más conservador para ganar en las elecciones legislativas de 2012 con una escueta mayoría absoluta en la Asamblea Nacional.
El 25 de febrero de 2013, Lee completó su mandato de cinco años y cedió el poder a la vencedora de las elecciones presidenciales y rival política, Park Geun-hye.
Economy
Lee Myung-bak's economic measures were called "Mbnomics" and were designed by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. The pillar was the "747 plan" which sought a growth in gross domestic product of 7%, a per capita income of $40,000 and transforming South Korea into the seventh largest economy in the world.[30] Regarding the weight of the state, the president promised free market measures but also a "smart market economy" with guaranteed aid and protection to those in need, in the general interest, and long-term sustainable development policies.[10].
As soon as he became president, the economic crisis of 2008 broke out, which led to a global recession and a change in forecasts.[31] To avoid a recession similar to that of 1997, the government injected more than $130 billion into the financial sector.[32] South Korean GDP decreased by 4% during the first three quarters of 2009,[32] and then rebound strongly and increase 8% in 2010. At the end of the legislature, the objectives set in the "747 plan" were not met, partly due to the economic crisis and the rise in oil prices.[31] This did not prevent South Korea from maintaining constant growth and its per capita income, greater than $30,000, could surpass that of Japan in 2018 according to forecasts Moody's.[33].
Some economists criticized the "Mbnomics" measures because, in their opinion, they benefited the highest incomes and did not solve problems such as the cost of housing, youth unemployment and the stagnation of domestic demand.[32][34].
Along with the macroeconomic measures, an ambitious public works plan was designed, the largest of which was the so-called "Great Korean Waterway" from Busan (Nakdong River) to Seoul (Han River).[35] The project did not have the approval of either the opposition parties or environmental organizations, given its high cost and environmental impact, while the president defended it as the best way to recover degraded areas of the country.[35] In September In 2008, Lee announced the cancellation of the waterway due to popular opposition and economic recession, replacing it with a "National River Maintenance Plan" that was presented in 2011.[36] Another important aspect was the inauguration of Sejong City in 2012, designed by the previous administration to decentralize power from Seoul. Although Lee was opposed to this project, he had to push it forward due to pressure from the opposition and members of his own party—including Park Geun-hye—to maintain the transfers of public offices.[37] His government also tried to get technology and scientific companies to settle there.[38].
In 2011, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2018 Winter Olympic Games to the city of Pyeongchang (Gangwon).[39].
Foreign policy
Lee Myung-bak's foreign policy sought alliances with the United States government from the beginning. In April 2008, he took advantage of his first official visit to meet with President George W. Bush at the White House and at Camp David. The fact that Lee's stance towards North Korea was more aggressive was welcomed by the Bush administration, which had misgivings about the rapprochement policies of previous leader Roh Moo-hyun. The next US president, Barack Obama, maintained good relations and defined South Korea as "one of America's greatest allies", supporting it in all its policies regarding North Korea. Likewise, he made efforts to strengthen relations with the Russian government and its president Dmitri Medvedev.
In the summer of 2008, the government lifted the veto on the importation of beef from the United States, in the midst of negotiations to renew the Free Trade Agreement.[40] The following week, the MBC television channel did a report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy in which it was claimed that Koreans are more likely to contract "mad cow" disease than Americans.[41] Following that program, there were demonstrations throughout the country and the first Minister Han Seung-soo presented his resignation along with other members of the cabinet.[40] The controversy lasted a month until MBC acknowledged that it had used "misinformation" regarding the possibilities of contracting the disease.[41].
One of the objectives of the Lee administration was to boost the international projection of South Korea through initiatives such as Green Korea (sustainable development) and Global Korea (foreign trade),[42] which is why official visits and participation in summits such as the World Economic Forum in Davos increased. As a result of these efforts, the G-20 agreed to organize its fifth summit in Seoul on November 11 and 12, 2010.[43] South Korea thus became the first non-G-8 country to assume the presidency of the forum.[44].
During his mandate, South Korea entered in 2009 as a full member of the Development Assistance Committee, being the first to progress from former beneficiary to evaluator.[45] In 2010 it ratified the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States,[46] and in 2011 it sealed the FTA with the European Union. In addition, he got the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to sign a $20 billion contract with the government of the United Arab Emirates to build a nuclear power plant.[47]
Although Lee set out to improve diplomatic relations with Japan, a notable conflict occurred in his last year. On August 10, 2012, he made the first official visit by a South Korean president to the Liancourt Rocks, a disputed territory between both nations that for Koreans represents a symbol of their independence.[48] In protest of what Japan considered a violation of the status quo, the country temporarily withdrew its ambassador and threatened to take the case to the International Court of Justice.[48] It was the first time this had happened since Japan and South Korea They established relations in 1965. Five days later, on Independence Day, Lee declared Emperor Akihito "persona non grata" until he apologized for the victims of the Japanese occupation of Korea in general and for the "comfort women" case in particular.[49]
Relations with North Korea
The arrival of Lee Myung-bak marked a hardening of relations with North Korea, after ten years of the détente policies of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun. Based on the assumption that Korean reunification would only be possible if the North ratified its commitment to peace, economic cooperation would now be subject to compliance with the objectives of the 2007 Declaration of Peace and Prosperity, especially the renunciation of the nuclear program.[50][51] North Korea immediately called Lee a "traitor" and a "supporter of confrontation."
On May 25, 2009, North Korea confirmed that it had conducted an underground nuclear test and launched three short-range missiles. Although the international community condemned the events and the United Nations Security Council increased sanctions against Kim Jong-il's government, the North Korean regime continued launching rockets from its eastern coast. North Korean,[53] and there was an artillery clash in Yeonpyeong.[54].
After these episodes, South Korea hardened its position towards the North and called on the Security Council to toughen sanctions. At the internal level, restraint was called for to avoid an armed conflict, but he made it clear that he would respond with force if the provocations continued.[55] Among other decisions, the army budget was increased and the Council was able to agree on a joint position to ask the North to suspend its nuclear tests.
Kim Jong-il's death was confirmed on December 19, 2011. With that announcement, the South Korean military was placed on high alert.[56] The National Security Council, concerned that political maneuvering in North Korea could destabilize the region, also called an emergency meeting. There were no official condolences from the Seoul government. Lee Myung-Bak called to "make comprehensive preparations to maintain peace and stability and continue to work closely with the international community."[57] However, North Korea's National Defense Commission officially stated that it "rejects reaching agreements with the traitor Lee Myung-bak."[58].
Two months later, already under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, the North Korean government announced the suspension of its uranium enrichment program in exchange for humanitarian aid,[59] which did not lead to an improvement in relations between both parties.