[Opinion] Following Army Without High Rank

There are two expressions which Korean politicians do not fully understand. Those are “I have emptied my mind” and “following the army without governmental rank.” The leading figures in politics who have suffered from the “President Disease” for the past 30 years have overused the sentence, “I have emptied my mind” without conceding any of their vested rights. In addition, the congressmen who are involved in irregularities and corruption, and who voluntarily stepped down and did not respond to the result of the candidate election of the party, have always abused the sentence, “Following army without governmental rank.”

General Lee Sun-shin, who played an active part in the 1592 Japanese invasion, gave up his government post and participated in the war as a mere combat participant. It was the time when Lee bulwarked Nokdun Island in Duman River. The Manchuria barbarians suddenly assaulted their bulwark in autumn, killing the soldiers and kidnapping 60 innocent people. Lee immediately launched a follow-up attack and rescued people. But the government held Lee responsible for the damage and deprived him of his governmental position. He could return to his former state by rendering distinguished service. In 1860, China and Russia concluded the Beijing Treaty to hand over Nokdun Island to Russia’s possession. But, until the early 20th century, the monument which commemorated Lee’s victory had remained.

Due to the jealousy and intrigue of his colleague General Won Kyun, Lee was sent in custody to Seoul and divested of his office to participate in the war for the second time without any high official rank. While being tortured, he did not criticize or mention the other innocent people. King inevitably set him free, for he could not find any evidence that allowed him to condemn Lee to death. On his way to southern coast without any distinct governmental position, he mourned bitterly when he was informed of his parent’s death. Due to the defeat of Won Kyun and his death in battle, Lee was reappointed to the supreme commander of Navy. He wisely coped with the situation and achieved a great victory at the Myungryang Sea. In the next year, at Noryang Sea, General Lee struck a fatal blow to the Japanese troops to wipe them out from the peninsula. He died in battle.

When I watched Grand National Party’s chief, Congressman Choi Byung-ryul declare his intention of “following army without governmental rank,” I was little bit apprehensive for him. The sentence’s real meaning indicates that “don’t blame others for my blunders, gain victories in battle, and don’t gather the fruits of one’s own labor.” I looked the bronze statue of General Lee established in the downtown of Seoul. The statue seemed ready to lament as to the current political realities in which the movement of his statue was decided without a reasonable grounding and reckless overuse of his remarks..

Editorialist Oh Myung-chul, E-mail: oscar@donga.com