Realistic politics needed

In a 90-minute talk show televised live nationwide Tuesday, President Lee Myung-bak fielded questions on more than 20 issues and confronted difficult questions, including on his personnel management style. The talk dealt with not only diplomacy, national security and the economy but also politics such as amendment of the Constitution, relations between the ruling party and the presidential office and between the ruling and opposition parties, and personnel management. President Lee spoke about almost all of the issues the people have interest in and gave honest answers overall. Limitations in communication were palpable, however, since the talk`s format was arranged in advance by the presidential office. The people want to see the president field questions from journalists without a prepared scenario as seen in advanced countries.

On a constitutional amendment, President Lee said, "An amendment is needed for matters such as gender equality, climate change and inter-Korean relations. No matter who becomes the next president, an amendment is necessary for the country under a forward-looking perspective." He stressed that the revision should not be limited to reorganization of the power structure, but must include every field of the Constitution in line with the changing times. President Lee also said an amendment was his election pledge, and that it will not be late to amend the Constitution if the ruling and opposition parties put their heads together since discussion of the issue has been conducted among scholars and politicians. The amendment is unlikely, however, given the dynamics within the ruling party and the responses of opposition parties. President Lee`s obsession with the amendment is thus highly likely to result in political chaos.

The chief executive deserves compliments for clearing uncertainty by giving clear answers to questions on a Cabinet reshuffle to mark the third year of his term and on a ruling-opposition summit. On rising housing rents and measures to curb inflation, he announced new plans such as the supply of multifamily homes and a cut in oil taxes. On the location of an international science-business complex, he provoked a backlash from residents in the Chungcheong provinces by saying, "We showed high interest in this to garner votes from the Chungcheong provinces (in the presidential election), but we need to see this matter from the perspective of scientists." He said a government committee will select the region to build the complex in a fair manner. If the Chungcheong provinces are eventually selected after much hassle, however, the committee is unnecessary.

On his impressions entering the fourth year of his term, President Lee said, "I have two more years and lots of things to do." Brushing off fears over lame duck status, he said, "I wasn`t a politician. I`ve led a working life. I`ll leave after doing things I have to do." Both pragmatism and commitment to hard work are necessary, but President Lee should be reminded that the people will not judge him based solely on hard work. What is needed is politics that impresses them that will resolve social conflict and achieve national unity.