[Opinion] Losing an Election and Falling Blossoms

The general election is over just as flower-viewing season nears its end. We got sick and tired of listening to everybody’s cries, claiming their superiority, for the same reason we get sick and feel nausea when we see flowers again and again, however pretty they are. How boring it would be if trees bore flowers all year round. A tree’s life cycle is sprouting, blossoming, bearing fruit and dropping leaves. It is the principle of nature that a new flower blooms and withers as the season changes. So does a man’s life.

A politician’s comings and goings in political circles is similar to a flower’s blossoming and falling. If entering the political world can be compared to a bud, a flower in full bloom symbolizes performing parliamentary duties energetically and enthusiastically. Its falling symbolizes defeat in an election and an exit from politics. There is no flower which is not beautiful when it blossoms. However, it is not so beautiful when it is shattering. It used to be said that a truly beautiful person is the one who has a beautiful appearance from behind. It is only adding ugliness if one rejects provisions of nature.

A cherry blossom dies suddenly after blooming splendidly in a brief instant. While the magnolia boasts a beautiful and elegant figure, its falling is ugly. A royal azalea withers slowly without falling instantly, though it is luxurious. An ume flower does not lose its odor while it blossoms in the cold of winter throughout its entire lifespan, and the Chinese daffodil’s leaves cannot meet its flowers because its flower stock comes after its leaves have withered. The wild chamomile keeps its lonely fidelity and the Korean dandelion has spawned a song titled “true-hearted dandelion” because it does even not look at pollen of Western dandelions.

Many leading figures in their services were defeated in this general election. A seasonal bird-like politician, who fell early as well as blossomed early, resembled the cherry blossom, and an old politician, who failed in his tenth victory in a row, resembled a magnolia. A convicted politician who was faithful to his principles but could not get voter’s support was like a wild chamomile, and a woman politician, who was counted as a runner of the next generation with her conviction and beauty, but who failed to save neither herself nor her party, reminds us of an ume flower. Leading figures of the New Millennium Democratic party who expected DJ’s influence but were defeated file by file resembled a Chinese daffodil, and the progressive force might be compared to the Korean dandelion. If I say so, I may get a protest from flowers.

Oh Myoung-cheol, editorial writer

oscar@donga.com