Roh loses core supporters who put him in office

Lee Gyeong-sik - not his real name - used to be a member of the president’s online support group, "Nosamo," but he was not a student activist when he was a college student. While he did cast a vote for left-wing candidate Kim Dae-jung in the 1997 presidential election, he first took part in a political campaign in 2002. At the time, he held the expectation that "a new era would open." When President Roh Moo-hyun faced an impeachment crisis, he rushed to protest in front of City Hall to save the president from impeachment. Now, however, Lee lamented his actions, saying, "I won’t vote in the next presidential election."

In the past four years, nothing has changed. The Roh administration shouted that it values small and medium-sized companies, and also announced government reforms. But it is still difficult to receive a bank loan, and corruption prevails among government employees. Since the beginning of this year, Lee Gyeong-sik’s mind began to break with the government’s stance on issues. Lee sold his apartment and rented a house to prepare future funds for his business ventures. But after he sold his apartment, because of the Roh administration’s failed real estate policies, its price went up 200 million won (US$215,000) in six months.

The current real estate crisis has placed the Roh administration in a "vegetative state." No one believes what the government says, and no one believes that it can realize its policies. As a result, the country’s liberals and reformists on a whole are for many the very picture of inability.

The skepticism has especially spilled over into the so-called 386 generation, who faced off with South Korea’s dictatorships as college students in the 1980s. This generation comprised a core group of Roh supporters at election time.

"A ’righteous’ way of thinking doesn’t necessarily lead to efficiency!" said Yu Gi-yeong (41), a banker who voted for Roh. "Anybody can make one or two mistakes, but eight mistakes" - the number of real estate policies announced by the government - "cannot be recovered. The Roh administration has marred the image of liberal forces," added Yu.

A failure of real estate pricing policy is critical, as it affects every economically active person in the nation. Due to President Roh’s prior remarks, "No matter what happens, I will keep real estate prices under control," the failure of his policies is in sharp relief.

Some said that President Roh’s inability is due to an absence of a clear philosophy. Lee Su-heun (38), an office worker, said, "Roh is a leftist in name only, and his real policies are new liberalism dominated by those who think money is everything." A 38-year-old researcher criticized the government’s property policies, saying, "The latest anti-speculation measure will also benefit the rich people of [Seoul’s Gangnam district] in the end."

Such an image of "inefficiency" is not limited to the current government. Jang Jin-u (30), an office worker, said, "All the people pay attention to who will be a candidate from the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP). No one cares who will come from the ruling party." He declared, "I will never vote for the Uri Party."

Another office worker named Han Jeong-il (a pseudonym) said, "The Uri Party should hand over power to the conservatives, and the liberals should study the practice self-control for [the duration of the next presidential term]."

Gang Ji-seok, who took part in a campaign for President Roh while studying in the United States, remarked, "All that’s fair must fade away. Liberals ruled for a decade, but they did so poorly. They should change directions," added Gang.

But some like Han Sang-hyo (35), a teacher, said, "I see people around me who say they have abandoned Roh owing to the current real estate crisis. However, I cannot do so." But her voice soon loses strength. "Frankly speaking, I can’t vote for the GNP. I truly hope that the Uri Party will produce a candidate of morality and capacity."

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