Unity for national security and prosperity

The Republic of Korea has achieved freedom and prosperity with its people’s blood, sweat and tears despite continued crises since its foundation in 1942. The country will also likely face tough challenges and hardships at home and abroad in the New Year. Whenever a nation faces a crisis, its people’s will and choices determine whether the country falls or overcomes adversity to remain strong and independent.

The vulnerability of South Korea’s national security as exposed by North Korea’s torpedo attack on the naval vessel Cheonan and artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island mocked Seoul’s slogan of “self-defense.” The North, which is undergoing a third-generation power succession, will likely provoke the South again. The Kim Jong Il government, which resembles a group of blackmailers, has threatened to launch a nuclear attack. Considering the North’s surprise tactics, additional provocations will likely aim for an unpredictable target in an unpredictable way. Seoul`s biggest challenge in 2011 is to enhance national security awareness against Pyongyang and establish a thorough security framework.

The worst-case scenario is for the North to possess complete nuclear weapons. If it gets its hands on uranium bombs in addition to plutonium bombs and deploys them, the South’s very existence will be threatened. Seoul must advance the reunification of the Korean Peninsula to eradicate the North`s threats and save 23 million compatriots in the North who are oppressed by tyranny. Seoul should take advantage of the more than 20,000 North Korean defectors to use them as a main group for the North`s democratization and reunification. Seoul should also step up its psychological operations against Pyongyang to help the North Korean people open their eyes to the outside world and the true face of their totalitarian regime. This year could become Year One of laying the ground work for reunification.

The Roman Empire’s longevity was attributable to strong national security and good defense of its borders. It was also superb in domestic politics and thus able to alleviate friction and conflicts among ethnic groups. In addition, the Romans solidified their infrastructure for public security to maintain social order. The history of the Roman Empire shows that national security and domestic politics are as inseparable as heads and tails on a coin.

For a country to prosper, political factions pursuing different lines should stand united when the country is under attack. In 2011, a number of issues will cause political parties to confront one another, including the ratification of free trade agreements with the U.S. and the European Union and a proposed constitutional amendment. In addition, political wrangling will likely intensify ahead of the 2012 general and presidential elections. South Korea should well establish the basics of parliamentary democracy –- dialogue, discussion, rule of the majority, and respect for the minority –- to become an advanced country.

Signs suggest that Seoul will implement a number of populist policies ahead of major elections. Such policies will raise the national debt to make it too big of a burden for the country and people to shoulder. The country should learn lessons from the fiscal crisis facing Europe. If politicians cannot take a responsible attitude, voters should make a cool-headed judgment to put the brakes on such policies.

To overcome tough challenges at home and abroad requires the power of unity of the country`s 50 million people. Above all, social and political leaders should set an example by doing their duty amid a national crisis and take the lead in overcoming it. By doing so, they can ask the people to share the pain and cooperate. History shows that a country or society whose leaders fail to show due morality will collapse.

Last year, the South Korean economy grew 6 percent, one of the highest rates in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Exports ranked seventh in the world, and per-capita national income is expected to have recovered to 20,000 U.S. dollars. Seoul also successfully hosted the Group of 20 summit. Despite a national crisis caused by North Korea’s provocations, the South could move up in its world status thanks to its good economic performance. The economic outlook for the New Year is not exactly rosy, however.

In 2011, people who were born in 1945, when the country was liberated from Japanese colonial rule, will be more than 65 years of age and join the ranks of the elderly population. Baby boomers born between 1955 and 1963 will begin to retire. In addition to the the low birth rate that began 2000, the difficult challenges of an aging society awaits. Sustained economic growth is a desperate task for South Korea at least to prepare reunification that could come at any time. Seoul must fully utilize its free trade agreements with the EU and the U.S. to accelerate its growth engines. The trade deals will broaden South Korea’s economic territory and create jobs for young people who are facing high unemployment.

The Republic of Korea has survived crises that many other countries thought were impossible to overcome. New resolutions and united wisdom can turn the New Year’s uncertainties into productive results. If the people exhibit the power of unity, anything is possible.