[Editorial] In Korean politics, the clock runs backward over history

Some of the country’s potential presidential candidates and political elites are being criticized regarding the people they chose to call on while making New Year’s greetings rounds. It was several days ago when National Assembly member Won Hee-ryong, who has declared to be one of the hopefuls, called on former dictator Chun Doo-hwan and bowed on the floor before him. Yesterday, former Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak, who is currently well ahead of the pack in opinion polls, visited Chun at his home, as well. Perhaps aware of the criticism Won is facing for his bow to Chun, he did not bow all the way to the floor, but he was nevertheless present at Chun’s house for a ritual New Year’s appearance. Prior to visiting Chun, Lee also called on former presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung and on the residence of Kim Jong-pil, former chairman of the United Liberal Democrats. Former prime minister Goh Kun, former Gyeonggi governor Sohn Hak-kyu, current ruling party chairman Kim Geun-tae, and former ruling party chairman Chung Dong-young also made their rounds and called on these former presidents.

It is of course a long tradition to, at the start of a new year, visit elder relatives or acquaintances or persons you’ve always respected to wish them a happy new year and exchange pleasantries. However, this is something that generally happens in the context of very private relationships. Perhaps because it took so long for democratic institutions and attitudes to take root in our society, it has been a custom in the Korean political landscape to call on influential politicians for the same New Year’s greetings. Political parties hold events where everyone pledges new determination and resolve for the year ahead. Later, though, everyone then visits the homes of the party chairman and other high-ranking officials. It’s a remnant from the days when politics happened behind closed doors and when important political decisions were made in the inner quarters of influential politicians.

If presidential wannabes merely want to visit elder statesmen to hear what they have to say about the state of the country and how it should be governed, then they should not have to make a big fuss about it and escort dozens of journalists into the homes of these politicians. All they have to do is meet them in a public but quiet place, such as an office. When someone suddenly calls on an elder, retired politician he never had contact with previously, is it not because he wants to borrow some of the political influence the host still carries in certain regions? This is truly outdated thinking and behavior.

Furthermore, it is dangerous to indiscriminately honor certain former politicians as elder statesmen just because they were once president or the chairmen of political parties. What are young people going to think when they see potential presidential candidates lower their heads or bow before people who destroyed democracy and trampled on human rights and who still show no sign they recognize they are guilty? Massacre and dictatorship must not be legitimized under the guise of unity and reconciliation. This is a mockery of democracy and history. The Grand National Party may be an organization that grew out of the Democratic Republican Party, which was led by the late dictator Park Chung-hee, and the Democratic Justice Party, which was created by Chun Doo-hwan, but it needs to take a clear stance on what from history should be continued, and what it needs to make a clear break from. Is it going to be okay for potential future presidents to be so lacking in a sense and awareness of history?

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