[Editorial] General Election Should Not Be Ruled By Emotion, But By Character And Policy

The April 15 general election, which is getting emotional, is a matter of great concern. It looks like a competition between who is more miserable, who is extending markets more, and what colors candidates are wearing, without any concern for character and policy. This is not a normal scene of a general election.

The scenes outside the hall are not that different. Even this weekend, a candlelight demonstration against impeachment will be held in the heart of Seoul. Even if it is an illegal assembly, and warrants for arrest of its leaders are issued, leaders are not giving up the demonstration. Now, the consenting party toward impeachment is also announcing a demonstration. There is even a danger of a collision between the two. Although senior members are appealing to their reason, it seems that both sides do not mind at all. In this case as well, emotion is taking precedent over reason.

The parties should show another attitude to the people. Even though the event will be a feast for voters’ eyes, it is not lasting. The election is not a performance. Parties should be evaluated by their concrete policies about how they will lead our nation and our districts for next four years. The color of the clothes or the look of a party won’t solve the problem of the economy and the livelihood of the people.

Besides, it is undesirable that the general election has transformed into a conflict between the counterforce against impeachment and the consenting party toward impeachment, or between pro-Roh and anti-Roh. To be sure, everyone can have his own opinion about impeachment, and reflect it in his choice. However, there are a lot of other critical factors in the general election, which is a normal phenomenon. If a democratic society, in which diversity is a core principle, limited it rather than encouraged it, it would be troublesome.

We should watch the general election with an eye of reason. We should finish with event-politics or illegal demonstrations. If we also continue to be swept away by emotion, our next four years will also be painful.