President Roh Moo-hyun has confessed that he was not well prepared for his presidency in terms of verbal expression and attitude. During an interview with Ohmynews, a portal news agency, Roh went on to reveal his hope that a ``softer'' person will succeed him.
Roh's remark coincides with First Lady Kwon Yang-suk's recent statement. ``The President and I had a heterodox existence away from central politics,'' she told a group of reporters on Sept. 12. ``So we have a shallow human network, especially in the artistic area.'' She was trying to avoid mounting speculation that the presidential couple could be entangled in the scandal involving former presidential policy aide Byeon Yang-kyoon and former Dongguk University professor Shin Jeong-ah.
The press meeting came just after Kwon met with Byeon's wife over a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae amid suspicion the first lady might have attempted to do something about the scandal. Some papers even reported Kwon might have bought some pictures from Shin in the past.
In the interview, Roh also confessed his proposal in 2005 for a grand alliance with the Grand National Party (GNP) was a totally wrong decision, which he deeply regrets. Roh came up with the suggestion with a view to surmounting a deadlock, embattled by the strong opposition party and antagonistic news media. At that time, Roh was in a severe dilemma with most of his governing party-initiated bills having been blocked by the GNP. Though Roh and Cheong Wa Dae staffers combined forces to advertise the need for the alliance it triggered furious repercussions from the politics, press and academia.
Roh, however, insisted on his alliance project, which resulted in a divide in the pro-Roh camp, hastening the lame duck phenomenon. The popularity for him and then ruling and now defunct Uri Party plummeted in the midst of the confusion. It was an outcome of populist politics without solid identity.
Now Roh appears to be enjoying the prime time of his presidency, boosted by the ever rising approval rating of up to 50 percent following his seemingly successful summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. It might have been better for Roh to come with such a frank confession earlier than now. But he still has time to compensate his demerit and contribute to the national development in many respects, thus remaining a better president.
We understand Roh has pure intention to do well as the head of state on the one hand but has had difficulties due to enemy forces like the opposition party and the press, on the other. As he said, his coarse manner of expression has aroused antagonism among the people. Belatedly, however, it is time for Roh to adopt a more refined way of administration so that he can cure the lingering enmity and promote harmony and peace among the people as well as between the two Koreas. And he needs to seek wise and peaceful ways of resolving the intensifying conflict with the mass media over the shutdown of pressrooms at government offices.