[Editorial] A Total Change of Atmosphere Needed in the Third Year

There are talks that the Cabinet reshuffle will be done by the end of this month at the earliest. Discussions on how many and which ministers should be the targets are on the way, but the shake-up should not be done in the attitude of “we will do it if there is a cause.” Now the administration, which is facing its third year in office, is in a desperate need of a total change in doing state affairs.

The last two years of the administration have been a failure. The fact that only some 20 percent of people support the president’s performance proves it. The majority of the Korean people say that nothing has been done well including diplomacy, national security, economic policies, and the public welfare. They should be changed then. The president should change his perception and methods on how to do national affairs, and the presidential aides and the Cabinet ought to be revamped into more capable and practical personnel.

The rest of the term should not be wasted like the previous two years. People are sick of politicians talking about reforms without taking care of the people’s livelihood. When the economy is falling into recession and the unemployed are overflowing, how long will the administration be obsessed with shifting the political mainstream by separation and disclosure of the past history? Not any more.

However, Presidential Secretary of Personnel Affairs Cheong Chan-yong said, “There will not be a Cabinet reshuffle only for the sake of renewing the atmosphere or shifting the situation.” He added, “If some ministers think they worked long enough, or have grown tired, they can be replaced.” He seems to take things too easily. If he thinks that the current situation of the administration can be resolved by that much, people can expect nothing but despair. In the new year and in the year after, people may have to mutter “It is hard to be a Korean citizen,” as if to mock themselves, amid vociferous catch phrases about reforms.

Enough trials and errors and enough avenges have been done. Now is the time to put the nation back on the right track. The administration should present a vision and develop tactics that can win the people’s approval and unite the people with solid leadership and the spirit to “seek truth from facts.” This is so that everyone can dream a better tomorrow than what there is today. The Cabinet reshuffle will be the first step. The administration must not test the people’s patience any longer.