[Editorial] People`s Anger During Chuseok

The sentiment shown by those who visited home hometowns for Chuseok was summed up as anger and concern. A series of suspicious matters seemed to have no end and it enraged diligent people. The Chuseok sentiment of people can be described as absolute distrust in politics and concern for economic situation.

The level of discontent with the ruling party and the government is significantly high. In particular, `Lee Yong-He Gate` to which many top prosecution officials are liked, has made unreliable any conclusion that Prosecution Office would offer. Furthermore, even a ruling party member once mentioned that it would be necessary this time to eradicate the rotten root of the prosecutor`s office.

Economic unrest was pervasive throughout the nation as economic slump became prolonged. Those parents and siblings remaining in hometowns were worried about a fall of rice price. Small companies and stores of local cities were dispirited because of a pile of unsold inventories.

Export, which was expected to become the motive power for Korean economy, marked a decrease for last seven months in a row. The conditions of surrounding world economy are awful, as well. Nevertheless, the political bodies that are in charge of economy and the people`s livelihood become themselves a burden to the administration for the people`s livelihood and the recovery of economy, wasting time over political disputes.

The Ministry of Construction and Transportation, whose minister has been replaced four times already in this year is a clear example of how complicated and confused politics dispirits administration. There was a fifteen-day minister, and another minister resigned only in twenty days. The Ministry of Construction and Transportation officials wasted time on reporting to new ministers.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration`s designation of Korea as a country of poor aviation safety, which humiliated the nation and damaged the air-carrier industry would have been avoided if the minister had been acquainted with the practical knowledge of affairs, and if he had dealt with it carefully. As a result of the coalition between MDP and ULD, the post of minister was appointed to without verifying a person’s ability and the degree of integrity.

After the break-up of the coalition between MDP and ULD, a full verification of health and property was disregarded as the offices were determined as rewards for the tax probe on the press. There comes an opinion that the government official`s declaration of property system needs a complete revision in order to prevent the officials from amassing wealth with money whose origin is unidentified if it happened in the past and its statue of limitation had run out.

The present government will face an uncontrollable situation unless it is in its right mind under this economic crisis as it comes to the end of its term. The government should take good take of confused sentiment of people by uncovering without reservation the politics-related corruption cases. People`s anger and concern can be appeased only when the government listens humbly to the voices of the people during this Thanksgiving season.