[Opinion] South Gyeongsang’s Governor

In July 2004 when Kim Tae-ho was elected governor of South Gyeongsang Province in the by-election, he told his executives in the provincial office to “find ways for South Gyeongsang Province to be ruined.” This resulted in the “South Gyeongsang Downfall Report.” The intention was to be constantly aware of such possibilities and watch out the current path they are taking. He also put a map upside down in his office. South Gyeongsang Province facing the Pacific Ocean, he emphasized with the visuals, needs to have a “global mind” in thoughts and preparations, more so than any other local governments.

Recently, Kim’s biggest enemy has been the Korean Government Employees` Union (KGEU). He ordered the KGEU workers in the South Gyeongsang chapter to return to work, sending official expulsion order notices to the KGEU office. As KGEU resisted against Ulji Focus Lens, a joint military exercise between the U.S. and Korea, Kim reprimanded, “Doubts amount on where Korea is going and whether KGEU members are public servants of Korea.” He argued, “When most public servants in Korea tend to sacrifice their time and energy as strongholds of Korea, KGEU is shaking the traditional roots of Korea. If this kind of action left treated without harsh measures, there is no future for Korea.”

The elected heads of local governments tend to go along with public servants. Dependent of public servants in most occasions, they tend to allay them as they face conflicts instead of confronting them. They are even afraid to be cheated or revenged on by sly subordinates. This is mostly because without their help, it is not easy to be re-elected a second or third time. In this aspect, Kim is acting “stupidly,” so-to-speak, these days.

But fools are more likely to get more of the work done. Fools can move the mountain, the old Chinese proverb says. No matter how challenging the confrontation might be, he won’t be lonely since there are many supporters. There are 16 upper level local governments and 234 lower level local governments nationwide. Just because Kim is the only person confronting KGEU by the book, that doesn’t mean that most of the remaining local government heads are right. Rather, their cowardice looks obvious. Even more so is the opportunistic central government.

Heo Seung-ho, Editorial Writer, tigera@donga.com