Candidates, show your vision on statecraft and help us vote

By Song Kyung-jin

Judging by the latest political news stories, we are deep into election season, which culminates with the presidential vote slated for March 9, 2022. Unfortunately, the candidates seem to be in a race to insult and attack each other, often putting their feet in their mouths in the process. Neither is this entertaining nor appreciated.

This type of campaigning simply irks voters and makes them grow weary. Voters do not want to see the Trumpification of Korean politics. They want to hear the vision each candidate has to govern the country and ensure that Korea continues to be a vibrant and thriving democracy.

Every time there is an election in Korea, people often say half-jokingly, "There are no candidates worthy of votes." But this time, those comments are not being uttered half-jokingly. In fact, many Koreans are deeply dissatisfied with the candidates and the divisive politics they preach. Consequently, many more voters are even questioning the validity of the current presidential system.

A recent survey of 17 advanced economies including Korea by the Pew Research Center confirms this sentiment shared by Korean voters. A total of 84 percent of respondents here believe Korea's political system needs to change significantly or even completely reformed. Only three countries ― Italy, Spain and the United States ― had more respondents feeling that way than Korea.

Koreans want political reforms much more than an overhaul of the economic (72 percent) and healthcare (42 percent) systems. This strong desire for political reforms is not confined to a particular group. The fact that both economic optimists and pessimists want significant political reforms highlights the extent of public dissatisfaction with politics in Korea.

With a little over four months to go before the presidential election, however, there is no time and space for lengthy discussions on political reforms. The nation is faced with a multitude of challenges internally and externally that need adequate policy responses. Youth unemployment, household debt, demographic change, education reforms, widening inequities and inequalities, North Korea, climate change, U.S.-China competition and turbulent changes taking place in the global geopolitical and geo-economic order, to name just a few.

Yet voters have been presented with scant vision for statecraft and policy responses. At this stage, presidential candidates should have prepared and presented at least a snapshot of their policy directions and proposed actions to tackle soaring real estate prices and surging household debt (103.8% of gross domestic product), one of the key reasons for the public's dissatisfaction with the current administration. The same goes for the challenge of high youth unemployment and educational reforms.

What little voters have seen been presented by the candidates so far has been restricted to domestic political issues. The candidates have not voiced a single word on foreign policy, except the huge global success of the Netflix series "Squid Game," if one can be generous enough to count that as a form of Korea's diplomatic "soft power."

I have always wondered why Korean politics is among the most backward institutions in Korea, whose trade dependence, roughly at 60 percent as of 2020, is still one of the highest in the world. Koreans desire a higher international standing of their country, but are generally indifferent to the process of making that happen.

Global uncertainties are increasing at a speed and magnitude not seen in decades and it is becoming much more important and helpful to have as many allies and friends as possible. Some of the best places for forging such alliances and partnerships are multilateral forums and mini-laterals where multi-level, multi-layered consultations take place prior to and after decision-making and action.

Korea should not hesitate to join such multilateral and mini-lateral forums, including the Quad, which is becoming more economic and less military. Pertaining to climate change and environment, social and coprate governance (ESG), let us be realistic and pragmatic and stop trying to confuse the public by adding a "K" to global standards and initiatives.

The candidates will have to come up with a set of sophisticated ideas and initiatives to make Korea a truly capable and reliable ally, partner and friend in the international community. This is the essence of accountable leadership. Confucius taught more than 2,000 years ago, "When the Emperor has done a good act, millions will benefit." That adage still rings very true.

Voters are not looking for a saint to become their next leader. So long as the candidates are not riddled with (doubts about) corruption and a lack of common sense and universal values, voters will look for leadership qualities and a vision on statecraft. That's why candidates must help voters elect the person who is suitable for navigating present waters. Do not make voters distance themselves from politics and become an unintentional and passive accomplice to betraying democracy.

Dr. Song Kyung-jin (kj_song@hotmail.com) led the Institute for Global Economics (IGE), based in Seoul, and served as a special adviser to the chair of the Presidential Committee for the Seoul G20 Summit in the Office of the President. Now, she is the executive director of the Innovative Economy Forum.