The ongoing signature-collecting campaign for a petition to the National Assembly to legislate key pending bills demonstrates how pitiful Korean politics is at the presidential and parliamentary levels alike.
The campaign, launched by business organizations such as chambers of commerce, got a big boost when President Park Geun-hye joined it Monday. She said that the campaign expressed the people’s frustration with the parliament and that she wanted to provide her personal support.
It would be strange if Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and other Cabinet ministers had not followed suit. Apparently emboldened by the government move, CEOs of Samsung Group joined the campaign en masse. More chaebol figures will surely join the fray.
There are mixed reactions to the campaign, not least Park’s decision to sign her name. Critics liken it to public campaigns orchestrated by the government during past authoritarian regimes. The Minjoo Party of Korea, the main opposition party and the apparent target of the campaign, is at the forefront of the criticism.
But the opposition party made some concessions Thursday, agreeing to pass two of the pending bills — one for assisting the self-restructuring of firms and the other on human rights in North Korea. This is progress, but it will not be nearly enough to restore public confidence in the parliament.
There is enough reason to believe that the parliament brought public wrath and pressure upon itself by failing to approve so many key bills — those for reforming the labor market, revitalize the economy and counterterrorism, among other things. No wonder the current 19th National Assembly is being called the worst-ever parliament.
Nevertheless, Park’s decision to participate in the signature-collecting campaign left more questions than answers.
First, it is questionable whether Park did her best to persuade the parliament — more specifically the opposition — before resorting to such a populist approach. Park has often fired salvos against the parliament over the legislative gridlock, but she has scarcely tried to talk directly with parliamentary leaders.
Park has met opposition leaders — along with ruling party leaders — six times since she took office about three years ago. But most of the Cheong Wa Dae meetings were mere photo ops. Also in recent months, Park has repeatedly said the parliament is full of bad guys, instead of trying to talk directly with Speaker Chung Eui-hwa and opposition party leaders.
What also needs to be noted is that the president, when facing a legislative blockage, can exercise constitutional rights and authorities, like calling for a national referendum or issuing emergency decrees. Exercising those duties, not lining up to sign a public petition, is what one expects of our chief executive.
The upcoming general election is another reason Park and Cabinet ministers should have stayed away from the campaign. Administration officials joining the campaign, which apparently targets the opposition, could threaten the executive branch’s political neutrality.
Critics already charge that Park has joined the campaign to help the ruling party in the upcoming election.
Voters cast ballots in anticipation that the president and lawmakers they choose will solve their problems, not cause problems. Park and the 19th National Assembly clearly show that anticipation was a daydream.
