The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    14 injured as escalator reverses at Sunae Station in Bundang

  • 3

    JYP founder to work as guest commentator for NBA finals on Korean cable

  • 5

    BTS lifts veil on upcoming 10th anniversary event

  • 7

    S. Korea wins seat on UN Security Council for 2024-25

  • 9

    RM to attend Seoul festival to mark BTS' 10th anniv.

  • 11

    Yido bridges East, West via fusion cuisine in crafted ceramics

  • 13

    Rise in temperatures, solar radiation by 2100 inevitable: weather agency

  • 15

    Tax on domestic cars to be lowered in July

  • 17

    Apple's Vision Pro likely to accelerate Samsung's race in XR eyewear biz

  • 19

    Hanwha heir vows to facilitate shipbuilding unit's global expansion

  • 2

    Heart transplant recipients tie the knot

  • 4

    Experts skeptical about effectiveness of S. Korea's UNSC seat to rein in NK

  • 6

    Seoul Queer Culture Festival venue moved to Euljiro

  • 8

    Korea, Poland celebrate rollout of Warsaw's first FA-50

  • 10

    Samsung to unveil new foldable phones at Galaxy Unpacked in Seoul

  • 12

    Coupang, Baemin under pressure from radical labor groups

  • 14

    Umbrella union boycotts negotiating body to protest labor crackdown

  • 16

    3 KBO players fined, ordered to do community service for drinking during WBC

  • 18

    Big events come in threes for Korean football

  • 20

    FSS, banks draw up 'three-step defenses' to prevent suspicious foreign remittance

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Yun Byung-se
  • Kim Won-soo
  • Ahn Ho-young
  • Kim Sang-woo
  • Lee Kyung-hwa
  • Mitch Shin
  • Peter S. Kim
  • Daniel Shin
  • Jeon Su-mi
  • Jang Daul
  • Song Kyung-jin
  • Park Jung-won
  • Cho Hee-kyoung
  • Park Chong-hoon
  • Kim Sung-woo
  • Donald Kirk
  • John Burton
  • Robert D. Atkinson
  • Mark Peterson
  • Eugene Lee
  • Rushan Ziatdinov
  • Lee Jong-eun
  • Chyung Eun-ju and Joel Cho
  • Bernhard J. Seliger
  • Imran Khalid
  • Troy Stangarone
  • Jason Lim
  • Casey Lartigue, Jr.
  • Bernard Rowan
  • Steven L. Shields
  • Deauwand Myers
  • John J. Metzler
  • Andrew Hammond
  • Sandip Kumar Mishra
Fri, June 9, 2023 | 01:20
John Burton
Do lead, Madam Park!
Posted : 2015-04-15 18:09
Updated : 2015-04-15 18:09
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By John Burton

This week was already expected to be an emotional one as the nation marks the first anniversary of the Sewol tragedy, which uncovered a nexus of corruption between government and industry in the maritime sector.

Now public anger is likely to be stoked by another potentially damaging corruption scandal, with allegations that President Park Geun-hye's top aides received illegal campaign contributions during her presidential bids in 2007 and 2012.

The tales of corruption have already taken their toll on the nation.

The profound psychological impact of the Sewol tragedy curtailed domestic spending as the public grieved last year, contributing to a slowing economy.

It also marked the beginning of the decline in public confidence in the Park administration.

It is sometimes difficult for foreigners to understand the trauma caused by the Sewol tragedy. Although it cost 300, mostly young, lives, I have had friends overseas ask, "Such tragic accidents happen all the time, why would this have such an enduring impact on Korea?"

There are several answers to that. One was the emotional immediacy of the tragedy as conveyed through TV coverage and social media.

It was also the loss of precious young lives in a nation that is rapidly aging, reminding everyone of their own mortality.

Finally, the public saw a tardy and bumbling official response to the accident that undermined Korea's belief in its ability to tackle challenges.

The result has been a nation gripped by uncertainty and lost confidence in not only President Park's leadership, but in itself.

The greatest damage has been to President Park's standing.

She was elected based on the belief among her supporters that she would exercise power in the same dynamic way as her father did when he ruled Korea in the 1960s and 1970s.

Instead, the Sewol tragedy revealed a leader that appears to be clueless.

Jindo wants to put Sewol tragedy behind
Jindo wants to put Sewol tragedy behind
2015-04-15 17:22  |  National

She was accused of lacking empathy and being aloof when she did not immediately rush to meet the families of the victims, but sent two presidential aides instead.

Although she has since apologized for her actions, her credibility has been permanently damaged.

President Park promised to make Korea a safer country in the aftermath of the Sewol tragedy.

Some improvements were initially made in terms of maritime safety, but the follow-through has since faltered.

In the meantime, the country has been plagued by a series of other fatal accidents caused by safety lapses.

These are signs of an administration that appears to lack vision and commitment.

Now the administration is once again distracted by allegations of corruption. Following the "memogate" scandal that led to the loss of the several aides, including her chief of staff, she must confront developments that raise new questions about her ability to pick the right personnel in running the government.

The allegations made by the late head of Keangnam Enterprises about illegal political contributions to Park's presidential campaigns have deeped public suspicions about the Park administration's competence that were first raised by the Sewol tragedy.

President Park might be able to ride out the storm if she agrees to cooperate with a thorough investigation conducted by prosecutors.

But her behavior to date has done little to inspire confidence that she will do so.

Her actions regarding an investigation of the Sewol tragedy have led to complaints by the families of the victims that she is trying to manage the probe to avoid embarrassing the government.

She has also decided to leave for Latin America on a state visit today to avoid any protests that might mark the Sewol anniversary.

The combination of the Sewol tragedy, along with the latest scandal that raise renewed questions about President Park's election in 2012, threatens to leave her without the total trust of the public and spell the end to any hope of achieving substantial progress during the rest of her term.

President Park must come clean and avoid evading any responsibility when it comes to the Sewol tragedy and the scandal hitting her inner circle.

The nation expects no less.

This is a special column contributed by Korea Times columnist and former Financial Times correspondent John Burton. ― ED.



 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Home gardening boom inspires plant adoption, specialized care services for leafy companions Home gardening boom inspires plant adoption, specialized care services for leafy companions
2[INTERVIEW] SpaceX's Starlink in Kyiv is wake-up call for Seoul INTERVIEWSpaceX's Starlink in Kyiv is wake-up call for Seoul
3Gov't to launch intensive crackdown against foreigners committing drug crimes Gov't to launch intensive crackdown against foreigners committing drug crimes
4Dog meat traders condemn first lady, animal rights groups' push for banDog meat traders condemn first lady, animal rights groups' push for ban
5Billy Graham Seoul Crusade celebrates 50th anniversary Billy Graham Seoul Crusade celebrates 50th anniversary
6Korean businesses seek tougher punishments for industrial espionageKorean businesses seek tougher punishments for industrial espionage
7Yoon's labor reform drive sputters as umbrella union exits talksYoon's labor reform drive sputters as umbrella union exits talks
8Yoon calls for all-out efforts to win chip war Yoon calls for all-out efforts to win chip war
9Dyson launches larger, quieter air purifier Dyson launches larger, quieter air purifier
10Hyundai Motor holds 'Pony's Time' exhibitionHyundai Motor holds 'Pony's Time' exhibition
Top 5 Entertainment News
1'Leaving Las Vegas' director Mike Figgis puts Korea in spotlight in new film 'Leaving Las Vegas' director Mike Figgis puts Korea in spotlight in new film
2Netflix's new original 'Bloodhounds' to deliver cathartic action Netflix's new original 'Bloodhounds' to deliver cathartic action
3White Cube to open space in Seoul White Cube to open space in Seoul
4Music festival brings attention to DMZ Music festival brings attention to DMZ
5Frieze Seoul unveils stronger lineup of Asian galleries for its second edition Frieze Seoul unveils stronger lineup of Asian galleries for its second edition
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group