[Opinion] Social Agreement

Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook and representatives from various sectors of society signed a social accord yesterday to tackle low fertility and the aging population. The accord is the result of consultation that the 32 representative figures have engaged in since January this year. The social pact even includes action plans and ways to secure financial resources. But still, there is a concern among the public that the “commitment of every player to the agreement” might not guarantee its effectiveness. And whether the representatives really “represent” Korean society is also another issue. The government should not use the social pact to argue, “We as society agreed to increased taxes to solve the problems arising from low fertility.”

Only a few Koreans believe in the effectiveness of the agreement. They saw the failure of the “social pact on jobs,” reached after 10 meetings in a month at the beginning of 2004. The agreement is full of great lines like, “Jobs are the basis and the center of welfare.” But the government was inefficient in, or indifferent to, carrying it out and began referring to a “social divide.” The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions threatened a general strike after withdrawing from the Tripartite Commission early last year. In fact, it was ridiculous that conflicting organizations signed a non-binding agreement in the first place.

Outside Korea, there has been a slight increase in the number of social agreements since the 1980s. This was attributable to the recognition that if political, labor, and business circles fail to cooperate, they will fail to resolve important issues to the disadvantages of all. But there are more unsuccessful stories than successful cases because people tend to change their mind when situations change. Even if people don’t change their mind, they cannot succeed without taking actions. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reflected a new social contract report released by the Council of Economic and Social Development (CDES) into national administration after gaining the final approval from the Congress. Ireland has taken actions and reviewed progress based on a strategic report produced every three years.

A social agreement is difficult to reach and even more difficult to follow. The government is good at having an agreement signed in a short period of time. But it is doubtful whether those who posed for a photograph with smiles on their faces after signing the agreement really have the will to take it into practice. The more agreements are signed like the transparent social pact, unified society pact, the more likely they are to lose value. Hopefully, politicians will remember and follow the oath of office first rather than simply increasing social pacts.

Hong Kwon-hee, Editorial Writer, konihong@donga.com