Time to Take Bolder Action to Tackle Crisis

President Lee Myung-bak's top priority is to revive the slumping economy. But it is not easy to do so amid the global financial and economic crisis. He needs to overhaul his policy directions for this year in a bid to cope with deteriorating conditions at home and abroad.

It is important to bring hope to people and present a new vision for a better future so that the nation can smoothly tide over the hard times. As seen in the 1997-98 financial crisis, the country was successful in returning to normal over a short period, as the people never lost their hope. Thus, all economic players had better be confident that they can make it.

President Lee said Friday that South Korea will be one of the first countries to recover from the global downturn next year. He made the remarks during a 90-minute roundtable discussion with panelists, broadcast live by local TV channel SBS. He even said that the 2009 growth rate will rebound to as high as 4.2 percent.

What is noteworthy is that Lee said the government must not just talk only about the pessimistic aspects. During a workshop for Cabinet ministers and vice ministers Sunday, he went further by calling for the spreading of an ``aura of positivity.'' He was seen as trying to send a message of hope and positive thinking which will certainly help the economy turn around.

However, only words will not bring hope to the nation. President Lee should act more to match his words of hope and optimism. As he pointed out, people will not trust the government if the economy does not get better by next year. Therefore, he and his policymakers should prove that they are not just paying lip service.

First of all, Lee should restore public confidence in his leadership that has been damaged by a series of controversial policies, including the resumption of U.S. beef imports, since his inauguration in February 2008. Lee needs to humbly listen to people's voices in a bid to build a national consensus on major issues. For this, it is urgent to establish a two-way communication channel to better reflect public opinion.

President Lee is also required to change his bulldozer-like leadership style. His top-down, ``follow me'' way of ruling has not worked properly. Thus, he ought to seek people's understanding and encourage their participation from the bottom up. Lee once promised to ``lower himself'' to get closer to people during the candlelit rallies against American beef imports last summer. We want to see our president keep his promise faithfully.

Besides, Lee is urged to do more to bring an end to dog-eat-dog partisan political struggles and to troubleshoot conflicts among different interest groups in a move to promote social integration. Now is the time for the Lee administration to show new leadership, and adopt new thinking and a new policy to translate words of hope into action.