Posts tagged ‘Hong Joon-Pyo’
On 27 September 2011, the Ministry of Unification released a statement approving a plan by Grand National Party (GNP) Chairman Hong Joon Pyo and four other members to visit the Gaeseong industrial complex. Hong will meet business leaders and officials at the complex and also engage in discussions on other bilateral issues, including the Russian proposal to build a natural-gas pipeline to the ROK transiting the DPRK. Read more
On 30 August 2011, a minor cabinet reshuffle replaced Unification Minister Hyun In-Taek with former Chief-of-Staff and Ambassador to China, Yu Woo-Ik. Domestic media has reported this as signalling a change in North Korea policy. Read more
On 30 August 2011, Grand National Party (GNP) Chairman, Hong Joon-Pyo was reported by Yonhap news as stating that the construction natural gas and energy transmission infrastructure from the Russian Far East and Siberia, through North Korea to South Korea has the potential to unite the two Koreas behind a joint project. Read more
On Friday 27 August 2011, Mayor of Seoul, Oh Se-Hoon stated that he would resign immediately, as he indicated prior to the failed referendum on free school meals.
Initial assessments have been that Oh’s defeat is a blow to the Grand National Party (GNP) with the referendum seen as a test of voter sentiment ahead of parliamentary elections next April and the presidential vote in December 2012. Read more
On Monday 4 July 2011, the Grand National Party (GNP) elected former prosecutor Hong Joon-pyo, as its new chairman. Hong declared reform to be a key priority, as the conservative ruling party struggles to regain popular confidence ahead of next year’s two major polls. Hong succeeds Ahn Sang-soo, who stepped down in May 2011, to take responsibility for the party’s defeat in the April by-elections. Hong received 41,166 votes, followed by Yoo Seung-min, a close aide to Park Geun-hye, who received 32,157 votes. The vote establishes a cleaerer path towards reform within the GNP.
