By Bernard Rowan
President Moon Jae-in has hit his stride. The New Year speech had many initiatives and proper recording of successes. Moon can claim to have improved one of the coldest ties on the planet with the North's offer to join the Winter Olympics. The chairs in Panmunjom's meeting rooms have warmed just a bit with recent use. Moon also repeated important promises about employment, chaebol reform, and a people-centered economy.
It's important for democracies to see the thrust of a leader's vision, including that of the president. The importance is even greater in Korea's democracy, given the greater authority given the executive branch. To drive policy, it's important that a leader have the political ability to carry out his or her promises. If not, stasis and stalemate cloud public opinion. Democracy needs a clash of views around public policies and actions of the government. This creates the opportunity for the public to analyze and measure satisfaction with such policies. I'm glad Moon's vision is starting to be forward looking.
South Koreans must decide the benefit of one such promise, the reform of past accumulated evils. I don't think it's worked well. I think it's calculated to continue unnecessary negative partisan feeling and work against needed reforms of the civil service, chaebol, and related matters. I think it'll also continue to foment evils. Let me tell you why.
No political administration in recent Korean political history has been free of "evils." That word is a poor choice because it invites scapegoating, vilification and demonization of political opponents. Politics admits the irrational, possibly all of the time. Applying reason and fairness remain fundamental to a functioning democracy.
Most prosecution "hits" in the investigations succeeded with Park Geun-hye administration people but not the Lee Myung-bak government. The investigations continue though may wrap up soon. They leave Park a pathetic figure in jail, degrading the nation's highest office in the minds of the global public as well.
Worse still, some honest and innocent former officials have seen themselves treated to a glorified waste of time. The investigations resulted in dismissals of warrants for arrest. The prosecutors' track record isn't good, since the lives and reputations of too many have suffered.
Litigating alleged crimes by Choi Soon-sil or allegations about the Four Rivers Project should occur. A democracy should follow and "root out" corruption. Putting Choi or Park in jail doesn't fix much. Violating laws at the levels asserted requires more than a "pound of flesh." "Rooting out" the problem needs real political reform. High profile prosecutions are just the tip of the iceberg.
Public administration and private commerce want reform in South Korea. Too much money can be transacted without proper limits and controls. Networks beyond the public eye, relying on obedience, control too much. Too little transparency exists. Creating panels to suggest legal reforms to public and private practices for the National Assembly is much harder work than a series of political investigations of high profile officials and business leaders. I honestly don't see or read anything much about what Moon and the national legislature intend to do.
And in the end, if nothing happens, South Korea's further advancement will suffer. There will continue to be high profile prosecutions of chaebol leaders. I predict officials or associates of the present administration will face the same result in time! Koreans will continue to rally against abuses of public trust and public coffers. The result isn't the best Korea can do for itself. It shows foolishness as an overall strategy of any particular party in power.
Nothing will touch the underlying systemic issues except systemic and painstaking, deliberate legal and statutory reforms. Older democracies have traversed this quagmire to reach the same conclusion. How many presidents, billionaire magnates, and their retinues must fall? Virtuous leaders and the Korean public need to get serious!
Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com
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It's important for democracies to see the thrust of a leader's vision, including that of the president. The importance is even greater in Korea's democracy, given the greater authority given the executive branch. To drive policy, it's important that a leader have the political ability to carry out his or her promises. If not, stasis and stalemate cloud public opinion. Democracy needs a clash of views around public policies and actions of the government. This creates the opportunity for the public to analyze and measure satisfaction with such policies. I'm glad Moon's vision is starting to be forward looking.
South Koreans must decide the benefit of one such promise, the reform of past accumulated evils. I don't think it's worked well. I think it's calculated to continue unnecessary negative partisan feeling and work against needed reforms of the civil service, chaebol, and related matters. I think it'll also continue to foment evils. Let me tell you why.
No political administration in recent Korean political history has been free of "evils." That word is a poor choice because it invites scapegoating, vilification and demonization of political opponents. Politics admits the irrational, possibly all of the time. Applying reason and fairness remain fundamental to a functioning democracy.
Most prosecution "hits" in the investigations succeeded with Park Geun-hye administration people but not the Lee Myung-bak government. The investigations continue though may wrap up soon. They leave Park a pathetic figure in jail, degrading the nation's highest office in the minds of the global public as well.
Worse still, some honest and innocent former officials have seen themselves treated to a glorified waste of time. The investigations resulted in dismissals of warrants for arrest. The prosecutors' track record isn't good, since the lives and reputations of too many have suffered.
Litigating alleged crimes by Choi Soon-sil or allegations about the Four Rivers Project should occur. A democracy should follow and "root out" corruption. Putting Choi or Park in jail doesn't fix much. Violating laws at the levels asserted requires more than a "pound of flesh." "Rooting out" the problem needs real political reform. High profile prosecutions are just the tip of the iceberg.
Public administration and private commerce want reform in South Korea. Too much money can be transacted without proper limits and controls. Networks beyond the public eye, relying on obedience, control too much. Too little transparency exists. Creating panels to suggest legal reforms to public and private practices for the National Assembly is much harder work than a series of political investigations of high profile officials and business leaders. I honestly don't see or read anything much about what Moon and the national legislature intend to do.
And in the end, if nothing happens, South Korea's further advancement will suffer. There will continue to be high profile prosecutions of chaebol leaders. I predict officials or associates of the present administration will face the same result in time! Koreans will continue to rally against abuses of public trust and public coffers. The result isn't the best Korea can do for itself. It shows foolishness as an overall strategy of any particular party in power.
Nothing will touch the underlying systemic issues except systemic and painstaking, deliberate legal and statutory reforms. Older democracies have traversed this quagmire to reach the same conclusion. How many presidents, billionaire magnates, and their retinues must fall? Virtuous leaders and the Korean public need to get serious!
Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com
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