According to a multinational personnel management consulting company that performed a survey of the quality of live in the world's major cities, Seoul ranks 89 out of 215. Yeosu ranks 110, and Ulsan ranks 116. That is near the middle of the whole ranking, but it means that our cities are far behind the complicated massive city that is New York. That is something that should be taken seriously.
The survey was done as a reference for international expats being sent overseas and not for local citizens in their respective locales, but the results are not out of step with what most regular people feel about their everyday quality of life. Young people study late into the night at private tutoring academies, without any time for personal development. Working people spend their lives suffering in overloaded busses and subways. And still, Korean cities lack ample cultural and sports facilities, or even enough space to sit and relax in comfort. Many places in our cities are full of dirty air and contaminated water. There is serious spatial disparity as well, with Seoul and the provinces, and then Seoul's neighborhoods north versus south of the Han River, being serious for those just living there.
The problem is that our society has for too long been more interested in growth and development than improving the quality of life. That will keep it hard to enjoy happy lives no matter how much the economy improves. Now it is time we change our priorities.
Fortunately, political parties and candidates are giving priority to pledges relating to the quality of life ahead of the upcoming regional elections May 31. Candidates for mayor are using slogans that speak directly to quality of life issues. They need to produce concrete plans for realizing those ideas. We hope to see these elections be a time for politics about people's lives.
The Hankyoreh, 12 April 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Elections Must Lead To Better Quality of Life |
