Waiting for Statesmen

                                               Waiting for statesmen

 

                                                        By Lee Hyon-soo

 

Korea has come a long way economically over the past 60 years or so. Now it is a member of the so-called 30-50 club which is made up of the seven countries that have per capital annual incomes of more than 30,000 dollars and populations larger than 50 million. Put another way, Korea is one of the world’s top economies alongside the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy.

 

However, it seems that Korean political reforms have lagged behind the country’s economic advances, given the fact that the Korean politicians of today seem to have a herd mentality and are extremely partisan. In such circumstances, wiser heads cannot prevail in the law-making process at the National Assembly.

 

Here is a case in point. After the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lost the presidential election in March 2022, the lawmakers of DPK, who have a majority in the National Assembly, immediately sought to pass prosecution reform legislation.  Although the purpose of the two bills was to separate the investigative and indictment powers of the prosecution, I believe they had a hidden agenda - to weaken the powers of state prosecutors who might investigate and indict their colleagues.

 

Although there was a public outcry and 52.1% of Koreans opposed the bills, the lawmakers of DPK hastily pushed them through the National Assembly. What is amazing is the fact that not a single lawmaker of DPK cast a dissenting vote against these highly controversial bills. If the roles had been reversed, would the lawmakers of the People Power Party (PPP) have acted any differently? Probably not.

 

The above episode makes me wonder whether there are statesmen among Korean politicians. The Webster dictionary defines a statesman as “one who exercises political leadership wisely and without narrow partisanship.”

 

Why does Korea lack statesmen?  From a layperson’s point of view, there may be several reasons. Firstly, the DPK is mainly supported by left-leaning people and the Jeolla Provinces are its power base while the PPP is mainly supported by right-leaning people and the Geongsang Provinces are its power base. Therefore, the lawmakers of both parties do not have the nerve to go against the collective wishes of their supporting groups of people and the regions from which many come.

 

Secondly, the nomination process in which candidates are chosen for National Assembly seats is far from democratic. They are more or less handpicked by party bosses. Therefore, once elected, the lawmakers seem to in the pocket of party bosses and vote blindly in the National Assembly as directed. Otherwise, they could fall out of favor and not get nominated for the next election. This situation explains why many who have distinguished themselves in their former professions disappoint us by acting as mere rubber stamps after they become lawmakers. They do not seem to care how history will remember them.

 

Thirdly, Korean voters are not without blame. It seems that the majority of voters do not scrutinize their candidates carefully. Their voting behavior seems to be emotional rather than rational. That is why they elect undesirable lawmakers who act irresponsibly or impertinently. I am amazed to see that some lawmakers who habitually disgrace themselves with vulgar statements or shameful behavior are re-elected again and again.

 

Korean lawmakers should be cognizant of what they are called upon to do.  Instead of remaining as mediocre politicians whose sole concern is re-election and enjoying perks, they should strive to act as statesmen who put the national interest ahead of the party line. Unless they do so, they will continue to be denied the high esteem that they think they deserve.

 

Note: This article appeared in the September 5, 2022 issue of The Korea Times.