At a meeting with editors and other newsroom officials at major newspapers Thursday, president Roh Moo Hyun said that he would "give up presidential authority if it would resolve the structural problems of Korean politics," explaining in more detail why he had recently proposed a coalition government. He is saying that he has no obsession with maintaining his vested privileges as president, and that he would be willing to substantially have his authority reduced to the level a president would have in a cabinet system of government, if that would resolve structural problems in Korean politics.
Roh is, as he describes himself, a politician true to the "principles." One can recognize his authenticity in wanting to bring normalcy to a political culture that is dirty with regionalist interests. He is the president, however, not an academic. Every single statement he makes about the nation's power structure realistically has major political consequences. It is very likely there will be far-fetched speculation as to his motives. Simply saying he could surrender presidential authority might be interpreted as meaning he wants to have a debate about revising the constitution. A president who is supposed to stand firmly at the center of activities undertaken as part of affairs of state might be said to instead be encouraging political insecurity.
After the National Assembly struck down the "bill to recommend dismissal" targeting the national defense minister Roh proposed a coalition government, and that was interpreted to mean that he and the ruling Uri Party were immediately going to try and create one. On Thursday he said that a coalition government would succeed if the taboo about it were to go away. It is becoming apparent that Uri has not been studying the idea or making any preparations. In the end it turns out that the whole country has been in an uproar over talk about a coalition government that does not have clear substance. One wonders how appropriate it would be to expand the discussion about the country's "power structure" in such a situation. It is empty talk to talk about something that has no chance of becoming a reality. Politics is not done by merely talking about the principles.
The Hankyoreh, 8 July 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Roh's 'Power Structure' Comment Ignores Realities |
