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Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Editorial] Stop the cycle
Lee not to seek political retaliation, vows to prioritize economy if elected president Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, said in a press conference Sunday that he is the right person to end the pattern of political retaliation because he knows its ills better than anyone else. He also said that if he is elected president, there will be no political revenge targeting certain persons, though the crime of insurrection will be strictly punished. Considering he is the front-runner in the presidential race, this is a welcome promise. As Lee said, each time the government has changed, South Koreans have been politically jolted by thorough investigations into the officials of previous administrations, detailed inspections of their policies and retaliatory personnel transfers. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration intensively investigated allegations involving Lee and inspected the Moon Jae-in administration. So did the Moon administration against the governments of Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak. Whenever those who have taken the reins of power looked into previous governments, they justified their probes as efforts to sweep away past evils, build a new country, achieve fairness and justice or simply to uncover personal corruption. But opposition parties and those who became targets saw these actions as political revenge. In each case, public opinion was split, political confrontation deepened and the livelihoods of the people were neglected. Of course, previous administrations and opposition politicians should be punished by the law if their wrongdoings are found, but more often than not, the punishment looked retaliatory in the eyes of the people rather than part of the normal judicial process. With the election less than 10 days away, Lee made the pledge probably because many people still believe that retaliation will nonetheless be repeated. The judges hearing Lee's cases were threatened by the Democratic Party, which moved to impeach them. Military officers involved in the Dec. 3, 2024 martial law decree, prosecutors who investigated allegations involving Lee and the Board of Audit and Inspection officials who probed the policies of the liberal Moon administration are anxious that they might face retaliation if Lee takes power. Those in power should not seek pretexts under which to settle scores with their opponents as past regimes did. Lee should keep his word not to seek political retaliation if he becomes president. He should present concrete actions he will take to achieve that. In the press conference, he also vowed to form a task force for emergency economic response as the first thing he will do if elected president. This is a move in the right direction. As Lee said, the South Korean economy is in jeopardy. Exports, which have propped up the economy, are losing ground amid the tariff war. Domestic demand is in a slump and growth stepped back in the first quarter. Yet the presidential candidates have made costly campaign pledges to win over certain generations and interest groups, without presenting ways to fund them. The people want a president who will lead them through the global trade war and save small businesses in particular from their financial troubles. The next leader should outline reform plans to overcome the nation's low growth and revive its economy. Of course, these plans should be based on the stability of state affairs and national integration. If national integration fails due to political retaliation and 'us versus them' politics, the goal of an economic recovery will recede even farther away. Regardless of who wins the election, all presidential candidates should keep in mind that reviving the economy is the top priority. Kim Moon-soo, presidential candidate of the conservative People Power Party, said that he would not seek to control the party if elected president. He vowed to cooperate with it and not to intervene in internal affairs such as candidate nomination. Under former President Yoon, a vertical relationship between the presidential office and the party often caused conflict. In the sense that it is a promise to reduce "imperial" presidential power, which covers both the governing party and the executive branch, Kim's words are worthy of being accepted by other candidates and parties.
Korea Herald
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Editorial] Keep your promise
DP's Lee offers to amend Constitution; PPP's Kim makes counterproposal Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, on Sunday proposed amending the nation's Constitution to allow a president to serve two four-year terms. He said the two-term presidency would not apply to the sitting president, as specified by the current Constitution. This means that if he is elected as the next president, he would serve a single five-year term even if the Constitution is amended while in office. His proposal strengthens the power of the National Assembly while weakening that of the presidency. Under his proposal, the Assembly would recommend the prime minister. The president also must obtain the consent of the Assembly to appoint heads of investigative agencies, the Korea Communications Commission and the National Human Rights Commission. If the president vetoes a bill, the Assembly could file an administrative suit. The president must receive prior approval from the Assembly for an exercise of authority to declare emergency martial law. The Board of Audit and Inspection, currently affiliated with the presidential office, would come under the control of the Assembly. The separation of three powers — legislative, executive and judicial authorities — means they should strike a balance of power by holding one another in check. Appropriate dispersion of presidential power is necessary if it is too strong, but enlarging parliamentary power is a matter requiring careful judgment because it could undermine the efficiency of government administration and lead to tyranny by the legislature. The Democratic Party has been criticized many times of ruining the separation of powers. With the benefit of its majority in the Assembly, the party has moved to impeach about 30 high-ranking government officials, including ministers under the current administration. It also slashed the 2025 government budget unilaterally in an apparent bid to land the president and his administration in hot water. Transferring control over the Board of Audit and Inspection to the Assembly and limiting the presidential veto power could stoke debate over whether they go against the separation of powers. If presidential power is deemed too great, it should be weakened, but legal instruments to weaken that of the National Assembly simultaneously are needed. Many people may wonder why the abolition of lawmakers' privilege to avoid arrest during a parliamentary session is missing from Lee's proposed constitutional amendment. On the stump he has promised several times to seek to repeal the privilege if elected, but the clause in question has remained intact. An array of legislators' privileges, which many resent, should be abolished. If the Constitution is amended after the June 3 presidential election, an amendment bill that guarantees checks and balances would be met with the people's consent. Kim Moon-soo, presidential candidate of the conservative People Power Party, welcomed Lee's proposal of amending the Constitution. He made a counteroffer outlining his version of such a constitutional amendment. He proposed allowing a president to serve two four-year terms, shortening only the next president's term to three years to synchronize the presidential election with the general elections, and abolishing lawmakers' privilege of freedom from arrest. Lee proposed a referendum on a constitutional amendment during either local elections next year or the general election in 2028. Lee's proposal is not without controversy, but it could be settled in the discussion process. In the past, some presidential candidates pledged to seek to amend the Constitution, but then dropped it after being elected, apparently out of concerns that discussion of the constitutional amendment could weaken presidential authority. This time should be different. Now that Kim has expressed his agreement on the necessity to amend the Constitution, legislators of the rival parties need to form a special committee quickly to discuss the issue. It may be difficult to draft a specific bill before the presidential election, but it could be possible for legislators to find a minimum of common ground on the amendment road map.
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Korea Herald
27-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Yoo Choon-sik] Statistical integrity must top governance agenda
We have been witnessing an exponential increase in the frequency of writings emphasizing the value of good governance over the past several years, particularly in debates on how to ensure that artificial intelligence innovation contributes to the sustained prosperity of humanity. South Koreans are also observing a growing number of discussions on governance issues in another context — sparked by the political turmoil following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in early December last year. This unrest culminated in the Constitutional Court's decision to depose him and is continuing ahead of the snap election scheduled for early June. Like millions of my fellow citizens, I sincerely hope the June 3 election will help put to rest the widespread concerns about governance issues in this country. However, such hope may prove premature — especially in light of a recent announcement by the Board of Audit and Inspection, which reported suspected systematic manipulation of key government statistics on the housing market during the Moon Jae-in administration. In a revelation that has shaken the foundations of public trust, the nation's supreme audit institution has found that between January 2018 and October 2021, the Korea Real Estate Board was pressured by the presidential office and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to alter housing price data on 102 occasions. These manipulations were intended to portray the administration's real estate policies in a more favorable light by reporting artificially reduced growth rates — or even declines — in housing prices, in contradiction to actual market trends. During this process, the REB was subjected to threats of budget cuts and staff reductions if it failed to comply, highlighting the coercive methods employed to distort the truth. The manipulation extended beyond housing statistics. Discrepancies between official data and private-sector statistics — particularly those from KB Kookmin Bank, a widely trusted source of housing market trends — prompted the Moon administration to explore ways to suppress independent data providers. According to internal government documents, measures were even proposed to regulate or marginalize private indices, including the introduction of a certification system for private statistics and the imposition of fines for noncompliance. The objective was unmistakable: to reduce public scrutiny and control the narrative around housing price trends. The findings, detailed in a final report following a nearly three-year investigation, expose a disturbing pattern of falsification involving housing price data, income figures and employment statistics. This scandal is a textbook case highlighting the governance challenges facing South Korea, including one to restore trust in government statistics. When official numbers are manipulated, the consequences extend far beyond flawed policymaking — they also erode confidence in governance, financial markets and public institutions. While this scandal is particularly alarming, it is not unique — many other nations have engaged in similar distortions of statistical data, with far-reaching consequences. One of the most infamous examples occurred in Greece, where authorities misrepresented budget deficit figures to meet European Union requirements. Trust matters more than anything else The Greek government understated its fiscal deficit and debt levels, concealing the country's true financial instability. When the deception was uncovered in 2009, Greece plunged into a severe economic crisis marked by austerity measures, surging unemployment and a prolonged recession. The scandal not only undermined trust in Greece's governance but also contributed to wider financial instability across Europe. Other notable examples include Argentina and China. Under the administrations of Nestor and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina's government manipulated inflation data to make economic conditions appear less dire. In China, authorities have previously faced accusations of inflating economic growth figures to project an image of stability and prosperity. On the surface, some might argue that manipulating statistics provides short-term political gains. However, the long-term consequences are far more serious than and often reach beyond what most people anticipate. When governments distort statistics, public faith in official data deteriorates, complicating the implementation of future policies. Once skepticism sets in, public institutions must fight an uphill battle to restore credibility — a process that can lead to enduring political instability. Falsified economic data can also mislead investors, businesses and international organizations. We have seen this in countries that understated financial risks or exaggerated growth figures, only to face market crashes, capital flight and economic crises — as was the case in Greece and Argentina. In democratic societies, transparency is essential. When governments manipulate statistics, they undermine accountability, enabling political leaders to deflect criticism and justify flawed policies. Distorted data also skews public perceptions on critical issues such as poverty, crime and unemployment, prompting citizens to respond based on false premises. This misinformation can lead to misguided protests, misplaced complacency or irrational economic behavior. Moreover, countries caught manipulating statistics risk damaging their global reputations. International organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank rely heavily on accurate data. Violations can result in reduced foreign aid, restricted investment opportunities and diplomatic repercussions. Statistical integrity is indispensable for sound governance. Even if initial motivations are not malicious, manipulating data may offer short-term political benefits at the cost of long-term consequences — including economic instability, erosion of public trust and weakened democratic institutions. We understand that the incoming government — which will begin work immediately after the June 3 election results are confirmed, due to the nature of this snap election — will face an enormous list of urgent tasks from day one. There is no doubt that each task carries significant weight, whether it involves responding to the impact of US tariff hikes or revitalizing the country's efforts to stay competitive in the global AI innovation race. Nonetheless, I wish to stress that restoring public trust in official statistics should be prioritized at the very top of this list. Governments must implement independent oversight, reinforce legal safeguards and pursue institutional reforms to ensure that national data remains free from political interference. A nation's success is grounded in good governance, the very foundation upon which democracy flourishes and the well-being of its people is protected. Good governance ensures that power serves the people, not political agendas. Trust in governance is not a given; it must be earned through integrity and accountability. Yoo Choon-sik worked for nearly 30 years at Reuters, including as the chief Korea economics correspondent, and briefly worked as a business strategy consultant. The views expressed here are the writer's own. — Ed.
South China Morning Post
18-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Seoul rebukes embassies over foreign textbooks claiming Korea was ruled by Spain, Russia
South Korea 's embassies have come under fire for failing to correct glaring errors in foreign textbooks – including false claims that the country had been ruled by Russia and Spain , was once part of Genghis Khan's empire, and that most of its population are farmers. Advertisement The inaccuracies, found in educational materials from 81 countries, were revealed by the state-run Board of Audit and Inspection on Tuesday. It accused several embassies of neglecting repeated notices to address the distortions, some of which date back as far as 2021. South Korean embassies are expected to flag inaccuracies to local education authorities and publishers, provide corrected information, and follow up diplomatically to ensure changes are made. Success depends largely on the embassy's engagement and the responsiveness of local institutions. According to the Maeil Business Newspaper, Laotian textbooks described South Korea as an agrarian society, with 63 per cent of its population working as farmers in rural areas. In reality, agriculture now accounts for just over 5 per cent of total employment in the country, according to the 2023 World Bank data. They also misrepresented the origins of the Korean writing system, claiming it resembled Chinese characters and was developed in 1446 – a confused reference to Hangeul, Korea's actual script, which was adopted that year and bears little resemblance to Chinese characters. The same books also assert, incorrectly, that Korea was under Russian occupation from 1864 to 1875. 09:19 From president to political pariah: the rise and fall of South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol From president to political pariah: the rise and fall of South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol Some Hungarian textbooks claim the Korean peninsula had been colonised by Spain from 1750 to 1850 – a period during which there is no record of Spanish presence in the region. One textbook reportedly claimed the Korean peninsula was part of the 'Empire of Genghis Khan' – a historical inaccuracy, as Korea was never ruled by Genghis Khan, though it later became a vassal of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty under his successors.
Japan Times
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
South Korea begins criminal insurrection trial of ousted leader
South Korea's ousted leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, argued that his brief martial law declaration late last year was "not a coup d'etat" as he appeared in court on Monday for the start of a criminal trial over charges that he led an insurrection. The martial law attempt, which lasted about six hours before Yoon backed down in the face of parliamentary opposition and public protests, plunged the country into months of turmoil and led to the Constitutional Court removing him from the presidency this month for violating constitutional powers. After departing his house in a motorcade on Monday, Yoon, who has denied all charges against him, entered a courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court, wearing a dark navy suit and red tie. At the start of proceedings, prosecutors presented their case by arguing Yoon lacked the legal grounds to declare martial law and accused him of trying to paralyze state institutions such as parliament. "The defendant ... made it impossible for constitutional institutions to exercise their authority based on an unlawful declaration," the prosecution said. Yoon, who was the country's chief prosecutor before becoming president, spent about 40 minutes in the morning refuting the prosecution's allegations. "Martial law is not a coup d'etat,' Yoon said, adding that he had no intention of paralyzing the country, but that martial law was needed to alert the people to how the majority opposition party was stonewalling government by impeaching more than 20 officials, including the Board of Audit and Inspection chief, which he saw as a dangerous threshold. "This was a peaceful 'message martial law' to the nation ... I knew this martial law would end within half-a-day, a day,' Yoon said. Yoon said although he had communicated this intention to former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, military officials carrying out the order seemed to have overstepped it because they are used to training for martial law under different guidelines. Two senior military officers are expected to take the witness stand in the afternoon. One of them, Cho Sung-hyun from the army's capital defense command, already testified at the Constitutional Court in February that he was ordered to send troops to "drag" lawmakers out of parliament during Yoon's martial law order. Yoon denied this allegation. The martial law declaration, which cited the need to root out "anti-state" elements, was lifted six hours later after parliamentary staffers used barricades and fire extinguishers to ward off special operations soldiers trying to enter parliament, where lawmakers voted to reject the order. The charge of insurrection faced by the impeached leader is punishable by life imprisonment or even death, although South Korea has not executed anyone in decades. Yoon's martial law declaration on Dec. 3 shocked South Koreans, and created chaos in all areas of society, the economy and foreign policy, the Constitutional Court said when ruling to remove him from office. The upheaval has further exposed deep social rifts between conservatives and liberals and stepped up pressure on institutions and the military, which had found itself in a quandary over whether to enforce martial law. The former president returned to his private home on Friday from the official residence, with crowds of conservative supporters turning out to greet his motorcade. He remains defiant and has pledged to "stand by" his supporters. The opposition Democratic Party slammed Yoon on Monday as delusional for not making any sincere apology. The country will now hold a snap election on June 3. Questions remain over whether Yoon might still play a role. Lee Jae-myung, the opposition leader who is leading presidential polls, visited on Monday a start-up that develops artificial intelligence chips, pledging to ease regulations with aggressive investments in the AI industry.
