Voters can judge a new leader by the people he or she selects for their inaugural Cabinet. Lee Myung-bak’s presidency showed initial signs of failure when a couple of his first appointees — cronies from the same region, school or church as Lee — had to bow out. Five years later, Koreans have a similar, and far graver, ominous feeling.
Six of President Park Geun-hye’s ministerial picks have withdrawn so far, and for more serious problems than simple cronyism, such as stints as a broker, a sex scandal and assets hidden overseas.
But what sets apart the incumbent leader from her predecessor is Park’s response — or lack thereof — to popular criticism. On Saturday, a Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman read a two-sentence (63-letter) apology to the public for the appointment fiasco, signed by Park’s chief of staff.
The "three-layered” apology — if it can be called such at all — was a cold reminder of how Park views the public and presidential leadership.
It was small surprise then that at the first meeting of the Cabinet, presidential office and the ruling Saenuri Party later that day, party officials accused ministers and secretaries of not properly delivering popular sentiments to the chief executive. To the eyes of people, however, the governing party leaders were no better at all, too timid to make sound criticism and frank recommendations to the president.
Come to think of it, what many, her critics and supporters alike, had worried about is turning into reality. During last year’s campaign, this page, too, predicted, based on Park’s remarks and attitudes reflecting her political philosophy and state administration, that if elected she may be a good leader but not a democratic one who can work with opponents through smooth communications. Still, few knew her problems would manifest themselves at so early a stage in her tenure.
Cheong Wa Dae says it will come up with a more thorough vetting system, but nothing will change unless one person changes — the president herself.
Nobody doubts Park’s patriotism and her deep dedication — or self-sacrifice — to Korea and Koreans. But for a leader without leadership that suits the call of the times — such as open discussion, persuasion and compromise — his or her patriotism and strong conviction can do more harm than good, while wasting the president’s, and the nation’s, energy that should otherwise be spent on far more productive purposes.
For anyone over 60, change is never easy. But Park should at least try to modify herself, and the first step toward that is to admit her mistakes. She should make a direct apology in whatever way is appropriate.
This is The Korea Times for Tuesday, April 2, 2013.
※ 다음에 나오는 문제들은 본 사설에 나오는 주요 어휘들로 구성된 공인영어시험 대비 기출 및 예상 문제입니다.
※ Choose the number that has the same meaning as the underlined word.
1. His silence was
. (MBC 유형, LG 유형, 건국대 편입 유형, 2005 고려대 편입 유형)
① hopeful
② pleasing
③ auspicious
④ inauspicious
2. She felt it
upon her to answer the letter immediately.
① derogatory
② insufficient
③ indispensable
④ obligatory
3. His political
was Bill Clinton.
① misfortune
② ally
③ opponent
④ friend
4. The labor leaders realize they will have to make some
in their demands in order to reach an agreement.
① suggestions
② changes
③ mistakes
④ compromises
5. Screaming is not an
response to the situation.
① an exultant
② an expected
③ a unique
④ a suitable
[해설 및 정답]
1. 그의 침묵은
했다. [정답] ④
2. [어구]
cumbent a. 의무로서 지워지는(imposed as a duty), 의무적인(obligatory, mandatory); 현직의, 재직의 n. 현직자, 재직자(holder of an office) * cumb=to lie(sit), to bend
① 손상시키는; 가치를 떨어뜨리는 ② 불충분한 ③ 없어서는 안 되는, 필수적인
[번역] 그녀는 그 편지에 답을 즉시 해 주는 것이
것이라고 생각했다.
[어원] 관직의 자리
놓여(앉아)있는(to lie) 또는 그런 자리나 입장에 있는
[정답] ④
3. [어구]
versary : 적, 적대자, 상대자, 반대자(opponent, antagonist, foe, rival ↔ proponent, ally, supporter) * vers=to turn / ary=person who
① misfortune : 불행 ② ally : 동맹자(국)
[번역] 그의 정치적인
은 빌 클린턴이었다.
[어원] 완전히 다른
신조나 입장을 돌려버린(to turn) 사람(person who)
[정답] ③
4.
: 양보, 양여, 타협(compromise, agreement); 허가, 인정(admission)
[번역] 노조 지도자들은 합의에 도달하기 위해서는 그들이 요구에 있어 일부의
는 해야 할 것이라고 깨닫고 있다.
5. [어구] ① exultant : 기뻐 날뛰는 ② expected : 예상된 ③ unique : 유일한(single); 독특한, 비길 데 없는, 유례없는(peculiar, peerless)
[해석] 비명을 지르는 것은 그 상황에 대한
반응이 아니다.
[어원] 자기 자신(one's own)(또는 특정목적에만) 유리하거나 득이 되는
이룰 수 있게 노력하거나 검토하다(하는)(to try, to examine)