韓国首相、月内辞任の意向　自民・河村氏に電話で伝える

　自民党の河村建夫元官房長官（日韓議員連盟幹事長）は１１日、東京都内で講演し、韓国の李洛淵首相から月内に辞任する意向を伝えられたと明らかにした。１週間程度前の電話でのやりとりという。
　河村氏は「まだ、発表されていないが、李氏は今月中に首相を辞任する、と直接私に電話で話した」と述べた。李氏は２０２２年３月実施予定の大統領選に触れ、「そろそろ準備にかからないといけない」と語ったといい、河村氏は、李氏の辞任は立候補に向けた動きとの見方を示した。
　李氏は韓国の東亜日報で東京特派員も経験した知日派で、全羅南道知事を経て首相に就任。１０月の即位礼正殿の儀に合わせた来日時に安倍晋三首相と会談、文在寅大統領の親書を手渡した。（2019/12/11-17:01）

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon plans to resign by the end of this month, a member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Wednesday.
   Takeo Kawamura, former chief cabinet secretary and current secretary-general of the nonpartisan Japan-South Korea Parliamentarians' League, said in a lecture in Tokyo that he learned about the plan during telephone talks with Lee about a week ago.
   "Although this has yet to be announced, Lee told me directly on the phone that he will resign as prime minister within this month," Kawamura said.
   Kawamura offered the view that behind Lee's move is the upcoming presidential election, set for March 2022.
   "While mentioning the election, Lee said it is about time to begin preparations," Kawamura noted.