On patriotism, nationalism and other -isms, or, let's not burn the house down

By Eugene Lee

What motivation drives a decision-maker's choices in his policies? A number of theories in the field of public administration, ranging from the psychological ones all the way to the grand development theories, may provide an answer. However, in order for one to understand what public administrators in South Korea have on their minds, one must do their fair share of digging.

At times, you could say the administration is being nationalist. For example, just a week ago, a new regulation was issued making it difficult for the dependents of foreign nationals who reside in Korea to use the benefits of the national health system. But then you are hit with a paradox, because at the same time, yet another regulation has been issued limiting the use of the same benefits by the locals when they need an ultrasound or MRI scan.

Even the political parties have difficulties identifying their orientation. The Democratic Party of Korea is far off in their defense of democracy, as they have lost touch with the common people and sometimes even sound like socialists. The conservative People Power Party have become so populist by turning their party into a powerhouse of conspiracy theories. Their disconnect with tradition ― and even decency ― has become so vulgar that even the president himself finds it hard to swallow.

This perplexity does not stop there. Foreign policy, or rather, the lack thereof, is in serious trouble. A few weeks ago, the administration, while hosting Saudi Crown Prince bin Salman, has been patting itself on the back for giving the Japanese "the cold shoulder" when the prince cancelled his visit to Tokyo. But a week later, the same prince was partying and signing even more lucrative deals with China's President Xi Jinping in Riyadh.

What was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thinking by signing those MOUs for the mirage of Neom city? What type of message does this kind of sitting on the fence send to its allies and the rest of the world? The hint is that, usually, when bilateral agreements of this sort take place between non-transparent parties, there's a spike in financial activities in money-laundering havens as kickbacks.

South Korea needs a multilateral, more organized, and evaluated approach in its diplomacy. In ASEAN, it is already competing with Japan for influence. It is hard, but there are other regions that deserve our attention. For example, Kazakhstan is a country in Central Asia that can become a platform for South Korea's strength.

Kazakhstan is striving to become a leader of integration in the region and even beyond, and South Korea can help Kazakhstan in developing its economy and strengthening Kazakhstan's democracy, and by doing so, ensure access for and secure South Korean investments in Central Asia. And in return, it will lend influence and allow South Korea to capitalize on the region's development.

The world is undergoing a major tectonic process, a geopolitical shift between the U.S.-led world and China's, and South Korea has no room to spare as its very existence is at stake. This split works very well for North Korea, where its actions are seen as more legitimate. In fact, we may see its actions as emboldened as it has been firing rockets, bigger and more capable, even more frequently.

My fear is that this stance may recall the picture of 1950, when Kim Jong-un's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, felt that he could easily overpower the democratic government in Seoul. My hope is that we will be able to anticipate and prevent any aggression from the North or even further.

Two weeks ago, President Yoon Suk-yeol held a meeting broadcast live where he also introduced a new "war" on drugs. All in all, the broadcast was blistering with ideas on par with his own age. The president was talking about reorganizing labor by lowering the cost of it. Only one thing was missing from the president's words: a modern understanding of the economy.

The future of the economy belongs to machines, not people. If we are to rely on people, we are bound to fail, as large countries, like the U.S. and China, are automating everything. Plus, what the president has been saying runs against the international law inscribed in the charter of the International Labor Organization (ILO), to which South Korea is a signatory party.

The televised Q&A session between the public and the president presented to us yet another question: how can the president count on any trust from the public when his mother-in-law was literally found innocent in an appeals court decision, taking place almost at the same time as the broadcast, in the alleged defrauding of almost $2 million while using the benefits of the very same national health system?

One thing is obvious, at least to me: everyone mentioned here certainly lacks patriotism. In my conversations with government officials and politicians, people often refer to their own country as "a shrimp among whales" or "being sandwiched."

These terms are floated for no other reason than to emphasize South Korea's small size and weakness. South Korea is no longer a small country; it now has the world's twelfth-largest economy. It has to get to grips with what it can do! It has to trust itself and its own abilities more. We must stand strong and proud for our country! We need patriots!

At the end of the day, if you do feel "sandwiched," ask yourself which part of that sandwich is the tastiest. And if that is not enough, try to remember yet another Korean proverb: "The small pepper is the hottest one." That will get you through the day.

Eugene Lee (mreulee@gmail.com) is a lecturing professor at the Graduate School of Governance at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. Specializing in international relations and governance, his research and teaching focus on national and regional security, international development, government policies and Northeast and Central Asia.