[Opinion] Truth, Bitter Truth

‘Truth, bitter truth.’ said Danton, a young French politician in ‘Le Rouge et le Noir’, a book written by Stendhal about the Revolutionary France. Being a man of great speech and a reformer, Danton was a key figure in the Jacobang Party who sought to work for the people. Due to his disposition to be carefree and extravagant, however, he was always suspected for corruption and influence peddling. With the revolution politics stressing frugality and principles, he was sent to the scaffold by Robes Pierre, a man reigning over terror politics, at the age of 35. For Danton, who was always surrounded by corruption, the truth was indeed bitter.

▷ And bitter truth has now become a part of many Koreans living in the allegation-politics society. In the run-up to the coming presidential election, political parties are busy making allegations and digging up dirt, and people have grown numb to immorality prevailing in politics. The draft-dodging allegation and counterattack, alleged manipulated report on the West Sea naval clash and speculation about 400 billion won loans made to Hyundai Merchant and Marine. People might grow indifferent to the bomb shelling news after all, tired of being enraged. To those involved in the allegations, however, the truth must look like a juggernaut with monstrous power.

▷ Then we might compare the Revolution-era France with Korea now. The common denominator is that people long for a change amid economic hardship and political chaos. The difference could be that while French people during the era believed that they could change the society, present-day Koreans think there is no such thing as a perfect and ideal change. Call this attitude skepticism, but it might also mean that civic awareness has grown and institutional arrangements of democracy are now in place.

▷ People grow mature through experience. Danton, a man at the center of irregularities, and Robes Pierre, a draconian politician with principles, all died on the scaffold. Koreans also have long history of pain and sorrow. Democracy will further grow as people learn from the past experience. Koreans have an insight to look into the truth and are capable of making sound judgment. How hard corrupt politicians are trying to hide the truth, therefore, they will not be able to get away with their wrongdoings before the eyes of people.

Kim Jang-kwon, Guest Editorial Writer, Politics Professor at Seoul Nat’l Univ. jkk@snu.ac.kr