[Editorial] April Elections Won’t Be a Civil Revolution

In a press conference he called two days ago, Moon Sung-gun, who joined the pro-president Uri Party, defined the April 15 National Assembly elections as a civil revolution. According to the actor-turned politician, the presidential elections last year was the third civil revolution following the April 19 Uprising of 1960 and the Great June Breakthrough of 1987. The April elections, by bringing a majority of seats to the reformist faction, will complete the civil revolution. In the light of the fact that Moon heads a national volunteer group under the Uri Party, his remarks will hardly be seen as a personal opinion.

The April elections are aimed at choosing regional representatives. They are all about selecting the people who would be of the greatest help to the prosperity of their community and country. When these representatives come together and discuss national affairs, it is representative democracy. The election also offers an opportunity to evaluate the overall governing ability of the regime. Each ballot contained each voter’s evaluation of the regime’s merits and demerits. Such elections are not a civil revolution and must not be one.

Any revolutionary theory dichotomizes society into revolutionary and counterrevolutionary. If Moon and his Uri Party are revolutionary, who are counterrevolutionary? The aim of revolution is not unity but exclusion. It is aimed not at embracing, but ditching. Whom does Uri want to ditch? Corruption should be eliminated. Reforms should be implemented. However, all these should be proceeded with on the democratic principles of consent and persuasion. This is the right way to national unity.

In a speech marking the March 1 Uprising, President Roh Moo-hyun said the vicious circle of regionalist mistrust, antipathy, conflict and confrontation must end. What is more serious than the disunity caused by regional bias is the one caused by a comrade-versus-enemy dichotomy. President Roh and the Uri Party must give a clear answer whether they want to win the elections whatever the consequences may be.