Adieu 2007!

Let's Open Year of Trust, Ending Deception

Today marks the end of the year 2007. As previous years, this year has also been embroidered with various events. Many of the news headlines were about gloomy and heartbreaking stories such as the kidnapping of Korean hostages in Afghanistan and the recent leak of crude oil in the West Sea. The lingering fake diploma case involving former Dongguk University professor Shin Jeong-ah and a high ranking official has deepened the people's grief on and distrust of the privileged class.

The December 19 presidential election indicated much significance. The landslide victory of Lee Myung-bak vividly showed the people's burning desire to see economic prosperity beyond any ethical standard. It also terminated the long-standing confrontation between the democratic and undemocratic forces in the political arena. The victory was also due to the people's distrust of the current liberal government, notorious for its amateurism with little weight on pragmatism.

Professors days ago submitted the word ``deception'' as the most appropriate description in summarizing the general trend in Korean society this past year. The four-word Chinese phrase ``jagigiin'' (自欺欺人) means repeatedly deceiving others will lead to the eventual deceiving of oneself. The ``sugar-daddy scandal'' focusing on the inappropriate relations between Shin and former presidential policy aide Byeon Yang-kyoon has triggered public wrath and cynicism on the upper class.

President-elect Lee has also been haunted by the so-called BBK financial scandal in the lead up to the presidential election. He has also been a target of criticism from his opposing candidates for lacking trustworthiness as seen in his alleged misdeeds including the improper hiring of his offspring. With the passage of the bill for a special investigation, he has yet to be questioned over the BBK scandal.

Fifteen percent of the professors also presented ``surakseokchul'' (水落石出) which means revelation of trust with the settlement of problems. We hope all the suspicions surrounding President-elect Lee will be settled completely so that the new government will start afresh based on the trust and hopes of the people.

Leading a new administration does not necessarily mean totally denying policies pursued by the previous one. In state administration, consistency is also important. In this context, the transition team needs to carefully scrutinize policies of the incumbent administration that should be carried out continuously. Lee garnered up a majority of support but he needs to bear in mind that there are another 50 percent of the people who did not back him. That is the reason why he must be more humble before them.

He also needs to embrace all the differing factions in the political sector as he was chosen as the head of state of the entire nation, not leader of a certain circle. If he becomes haughty and fails to carry out ``broadminded'' politics, the people will not tolerate this and deal a blow to him through the upcoming parliamentary elections in April. With a humble mind, he can open the era of ``success for all the people'' he pledged during the presidential campaign. We hope we can hear much encouraging good news one year later, without gloomy headlines on deception.