If there really is "anti-business sentiment" in our society then it would be right to set things straight. However, drawing connections between "anti-business sentiment" and the recent issues involving the Samsung group is a big diversion from the essence of the problem. Those who assert that there's anti-business motives behind attacks on Samsung say that it's about inflating all sorts of suspicions about Samsung to force it into a corner. Grand National Party general secretary Kim Mu Seong goes so far as to say "the attacks on Samsung are a collusion of Uri Party, the Democratic Labor Party (DLP), and civic groups trying to spread anti-business sentiment, which is a leftist tendency." Those who make such claims also say that the economy is bad enough as it is, going on an anti-business offensive will destroy the national economy and the people's welfare. That is a distortion that it itself a public opinion offensive.
It's not untrue that there exists an atmosphere in which Samsung looks like it's getting beaten on. That would be because of the fact that so many issues have come out into the open at once: Violations of the Financial Industry Restructuring Law by Samsung Life and Samsung Card, allegations about financial fraud on the part of Samsung's commercial vehicle division, the "X File" affair, and allegations of inheritance tax evasion by Lee Jae Yong. However, those are issues that would win other jaebeol's the same kind of attention. It's not because of the Samsung name; the fundamental cause is Samsung's illegal and less-than-aboveboard methods. Saying that people are attacking Samsung because of anti-business sentiment is reversing the cause and the result. Samsung may contribute much to the national economy, but it cannot be treated as untouchable because of that.
If people are worried about anti-business sentiment, the right way to go about fighting that would be to lead the way in correcting corporate wrongs and to have them play by the rules. If that happens there won't be any reason for the country to criticize big business. Without fail, every time jaebeol tycoons got in trouble for their slush funds you heard the old argument about saving the economy. Who knows what the motive is behind the recent allegations about "anti-business sentiment," but is that argument not ultimately about overlooking the problems that exist and moving on without resolving them? The disease will only worsen if it is ignored because of the immediate pain. Samsung executives, for their part, should stop feeling like they are being unjustly attacked and instead take this as an opportunity to correct the wrongs and for the group to be reborn as a conglomerate of the people.
The Hankyoreh, 30 September 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Wrong About 'Anti-Business Sentiment' |
