Bad Plans Hurt Confidence in Policy

When the government announced its plans for independent, small businesses last week the Hankyoreh said it was overambitious. Plans included restricting the start of hair-cutting and styling businesses and laundries by requiring certification and the liquidation of shops beyond hope, all of which was unreasonable from the start. Measures on paper do not work when people are starting small businesses in order to feed themselves and opening shops despite the difficulties. Finding other ways to earn livelihoods is what comes first. The same goes for the government's plans on traditional markets. It says it is going to do away with those that are not competitive, but that goes too far. It is not that one cannot understand the objective; the problem is that approach will only incite opposition and those government policies have little likelihood of succeeding. Because of the negative public response, a week later the government has already narrowed the scope of businesses that would require certification of qualifications, and it looks like the plan to force some markets to close will be withdrawn.

The excess of people working for themselves and stagnation at traditional markets and the resulting fall of the common people (seomin) are issues that cannot be ignored. The government is right to be trying to do something about the situation. The more difficult the task, however, the more important it is that matters be dealt with carefully. It is overambitious to think you can solve everything at once and it is "government administration done from a desk" and as such is out of touch. They say that while putting those plans together the government did not make sure that there was ample agreement between government ministries and offices. It is understandable that the plans are being harshly criticized with accusations that they are "plans for the purpose of being reported" to higher-ups in government, with actual implementation being a later priority. Civil servants need self-reflection in a big way if they have still not grown beyond the habits of the development era, when they could believe that the government could make anything happen.

There were some ideas you hoped would have an effect but were not given any attention because there was such a public outcry. It is also wrong to instantly withdraw policies that are under scrutiny just to avoid public scolding. There needs to be the kind of prudence that examines the plans thoroughly and then keeps what should be kept and gets rid of what should be gotten rid of. Policy needs to be realistic and be reliable. If the missteps continue the public will have less confidence in all the government's policies.

The Hankyoreh, 8 June 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]