ED Embrace opposition

Moon should take more open stance toward LKP

President Moon Jae-in heavily criticized politicians during a meeting with his secretaries Monday to mark the second anniversary of his taking office in May 2017.

During the meeting, he slammed the political parties for instigating confrontation, saying “politics that bring extreme division among the people cannot give them hope.” The remarks are seen to be mainly targeting the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and its chairman, Hwang Kyo-ahn. Moon also urged main opposition to do away with “inappropriate language and old standards.”

Moon's frustration toward the LKP is understandable since Hwang, who has been leading protests against the Moon administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) within and outside the National Assembly, has used words like “authoritarian” and “leftist” to criticize Moon. The President's leadership has problems, but to call him authoritarian is incorrect and far from the reality. But there are problems with the way Moon is responding to the current political impasse caused by various issues, including the parties' clash over a set of reform bills pushed by the ruling party and other minor opposition parties.

As the nation's leader, the people want to see Moon accept criticism and be more open to suggestions to improve his administration's competence and increase the effectiveness of his policies.

The LKP leader has demanded a one-on-one meeting with Moon to discuss urgent state affairs but Moon has been hesitant about such a meeting. Hwang has stressed the importance of a private meeting with the President to share his party's take on how to revive the economy, improve the people's livelihoods and safeguard national security, and also hear the President's ideas on these issues. But Cheong Wa Dae has refused the suggestion and has instead called on the main opposition to join a meeting among the President and the other parties. Hwang has insisted on a one-on-one meeting with the President to increase the effectiveness of the talks.

Some veteran politicians such as Rep. Park Jie-won of the minor opposition Party of Democracy and Peace have called on Moon to accept Hwang's suggestion, saying that past presidents have also held private talks with opposition leaders. Moon's reluctance on getting together with Hwang can be seen by some people as a sign of a lack of confidence.

After two years in office, the people want to see Moon take full responsibility and be more accountable for the shortcomings of his policy performance so far rather than blaming the opposition and other factors. Such responsible leadership is particularly crucial with less than a year left until the general election.

Responding to Hwang's suggestion will be taken as a sign that Moon is ready to accept criticism on policy missteps and work toward building a cooperative and productive relationship with the opposition for the people's sake.