ed Ahn Cheol-soo’s message
It’s the citizens’ politics, stupid!
If TIME magazine had a Korean edition, its Man of the Year for 2011 would surely be Ahn Cheol-soo. Up until a few months ago, he was not even a politician in the eyes of most Koreans. Now, the doctor-turned-entrepreneur-turned-professor is the hottest political star here. If the 49-year-old remains relevant enough to adorn the year-end cover of this imaginary magazine in 2012, too, the Korean politics will have changed like never before.
The ``Ahn Cheol-soo phenomenon,” which seemed to submerge after the end of the Seoul mayoral election, is resurfacing with his recent donation of 170 billion won ($150 million) for social causes.
With or without political intentions, donations, especially chucking in half of one’s fortune, deserve popular praise and respect. It should be an absolute good, and the rare practice of noblesse oblige, a cliche everybody talks about but few actually follow.
We hope Ahn’s example would lead to a change in the consciousness and behavior of the nation’s wealthy people, who, unlike their counterparts in Western countries, have paid little attention to the plights of the underprivileged. Ahn’s act of giving should also be different from similar acts of business magnates, which people regard as payment for their sins, as well as those of the existing politicians, including President Lee Myung-bak, widely viewed as political investments.
Not everyone seem to thinks so, however, as many people believe Ahn’s formal debut to politics is just a matter of time.
It would be foolish, though, to lose sleep over whether or not Ahn will throw his hat into the ring for the upcoming presidential race. What matters is not Ahn himself as an individual but what the Ahn phenomenon implies for Korean society. Even the implications can vary, reflecting the increasingly difficult popular livelihood amid aggravating economic conditions for the 99 percent, people’s disillusionment with, or contempt of, the existing politicians and political parties, and the lack of communication between the governing and the governed.
Unfortunately, the establishment still does not realize what’s happening exactly and how it should cope. A case in point is the ruling Grand National Party, which tries to make up for the election loss by ushering in popular stars to the party. It’s like the voters are fed up with the content of an old broadcasting station, and the GNP is trying to change only the announcers. What Koreans, especially the younger generation, want is recognition, respect, sharing and communication.
We find the reasons for the ongoing revolt of citizens here and abroad stemming from technological renovation and universal education. The highly-educated, social media-savvy public no longer accepts the glaring inequity the power elite force upon them. They want their fair share. Henceforth, the citizens’ direct participation in politics, as evidenced by the Pirates Party in some Western European countries.
Ahn just happens to represent the changing times and is closest to popular desire so far here. He can either jump into real politics or opt to remain as an icon symbolizing such ideals. It’s completely up to him.
What’s certain is today’s public will not ― and should not ― remain as just voters but be a very big and crucial part of such changes. And any individuals or groups, old or new, who successfully embrace this gradual shift from representative to participatory politics, will get the last dance.