Mail Call: Royal for France?(Letter to the editor)

Readers of our year-end report on Segolene Royal were skeptical of her success. One doubted that she could overcome France's challenges: "Joblessness, poverty, homelessness and corruption are all up." Observed another, "substance is second to media savvy and razzmatazz."

Korea's Commitments

Your Dec. 25, 2006/Jan. 1, 2007, article "Failed Expectations" says that the Republic of Korea lacks "strong commitment to due process, rule of law or the fundamental rules of democracy ... " This outrageous allegation overlooks how long and courageously Korea has fought to achieve an exemplary democracy. Your writers say that South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun "waffled on the region's gravest security threat: North Korea's nuclear breakout." This is not true. President Roh sternly condemned North Korea's nuclear test as a serious development undermining the region's peace and stability. He said that Pyongyang is solely responsible for all the consequences of that incident. Our government's policy on the North Korean nuclear issue has always been closely coordinated with those of the international community, including the United States. Korea's track record demonstrates a longstanding commitment to achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. You also claim that President Roh had "gone after the country's largest chaebol and biggest media groups for tax evasion," and compare him to other Asian leaders who use government agencies to punish enemies. But Korean laws require regular tax audits, and proper enforcement of tax laws has not diminished the voice of the Korean news media. I challenge NEWSWEEK to list countries with a press corps more critical of its government than Korea's.

Sock-joong Yoon

Minister for Public Affairs

Embassy of the Republic of Korea

Washington, D.C.