Grand Order of Mugunghwa

An award is originally given after activities and events are recognized in an individual. Positive evaluations of good deeds, performance, capacity and efforts are expressed through a prize. An award should not be given to encourage someone to make achievements, conduct good deeds, or raise performance. The objectives and reasons for giving an award should also be clear as well. These are the minimum principles for an award to retain its value. Jeong Do-jeon, a renowned politician from the Joseon Dynasty, said in his essay book “Sambongjip,” “Awards and punishments should not be determined based on personal feelings, and they should be based on public facts. To achieve national security and prosperity and social values, an award should be promoted as a countermeasure against punishment.” But the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the highest honor in Korea, has strayed from such principles for many years.

The order is bestowed to the president and his or her spouse. Incumbent and former heads of state of the nation’s allies can also receive the honor but that is another topic. The problem is the manner in which the order is presented to the incumbent president and his or her spouse. Until Kim Dae-jung, the order was presented timed with a presidential inauguration. A new president would wear the order when his or her inauguration was being held. It is irrational for the new president to get the honor when he or she has not fulfilled his or her duty even for a single day, though a provision in the Order of Merit and Award Act says, “The order is presented to someone who made important contributions to the Republic of Korea.” It might make sense if the honor is meant to congratulate the president-elect for winning a highly competitive election.

Former President Roh Moo-hyun was right to end this practice. As president-elect, he declined the award ahead of his inauguration, saying “It is more appropriate to receive the honor at the time of resignation rather than inauguration, in the sense that the president is being acknowledged by the people for his efforts and achievements for five years.” Instead, he took the order just before the end of his term. This also looked awkward because the president eventually approved the awarding of the order to himself by acknowledging his own achievements ahead of leaving office, and ended up giving himself the order. Critics are also on the scene. For this reason, President Lee seems to be in a dilemma as he faces the same situation as Roh did. It is ungainly to give the order to himself, but no other methods seem proper.

People can hold differing evaluations of an outgoing president. Irrespective of approval rating, however, Koreans have a duty to give proper recognition of the efforts and sacrifice of the chief executive, who has agonized day and night over the past five years. Against this backdrop, the manner of presentation of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa might have to be changed. The new president could present the order to his or her predecessor and gives words of acknowledgement on behalf of the public at the inauguration. This way, the honor can meet its objective and impress the public as well. This could also strengthen public unity and reconciliation, buzzwords of the times. If President-elect Park Geun-hye makes up her mind, this could be quite possible immediately.

Editorial Writer Lee Jin-nyong (jinnyong@donga.com)