Lees Top Priority

President-Elect Vows to Open New Era for Nation

The landslide victory for conservative opposition candidate Lee Myung-bak reflects the people's aspiration for an economic revival. That is, voters chose Lee's pragmatism since they had become disillusioned with President Roh Moo-hyun's misrule. The election result clearly demonstrates that the people made a relentless judgment against Roh and his government because they were fed up with his leadership style based on arrogance and self-righteousness.

Lee of the Grand National Party (GNP) defeated his runner-up, Chung Dong-young of the pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP), Wednesday, by the largest margin in the history of the country's presidential elections. Lee gleaned 48.7 percent support or 11.49 million votes, while Chung collected 26.2 percent or 6.17 million votes. The outcome is unusual because no winners have garnered more than 40 percent support over the past two decades.

Lee's victory shows how much voters have been discontented with the incompetent and corrupt government under the leadership of the liberal and progressive president. In fact, Roh and his ruling elite have stirred conflict in almost all the sectors of the nation by pitting themselves against conservative forces. Undoubtedly, they did not know how to make compromises and fix social conflicts. Roh's arrogant leadership style has only invited too many enemies. The real problem is that the left-leaning government has failed to improve living standards amid an economic slowdown.

Despite Chung and other candidates' negative campaigns against Lee for his alleged involvement in a financial scandal, voters overwhelmingly supported the former Seoul mayor and CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction. It is obvious that the people chose him as the new leader of the nation believing that his success story as a businessman will reconstruct the economy and present a new vision for the country.

First of all, the President-elect should make all-out efforts to revive the economy so that the middle and low-income classes can improve their quality of living. He must remember people's high expectations of him because he promised to raise the economic growth rate to 7 percent, higher than this year's projected 4.8 percent. To implement his campaign pledges, Lee will have to hammer out detailed measures to create more jobs, boost facility investment and attract more foreign direct investment.

In a press conference Thursday, Lee reaffirmed economic revival as his top priority during his presidential term that will begin next February. He said he will open a new era for economic advancement and a betterment of the quality of life. He also made sure that the business environment will change significantly to encourage entrepreneurs to invest more. Besides, Lee committed to pushing for deregulation to create a more market-friendly atmosphere.

The President-elect also promised to set out North Korea policy based on pragmatism, stressing that Pyongyang's denuclearization is essential to improving inter-Korean relations. He hinted that his government would raise the North Korean human rights issue. In addition, he vowed to strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance. We hope the next president will help the North move toward reform and openness, while promoting national reconciliation and peace.

Lee has many things to do when he takes office. He should push for reforms in politics, the public sector and education. He also faces mounting challenges from within and without. It is also imperative for him to realize social integration and narrow the gap between the rich and poor. We hope the power transition process is smooth and that Lee will make another success story and bring glory to the nation.