[editorial] Is Ours an Absentee Government?

Concern is growing about the government's failure to address numerous scandals that are rocking business and political circles. The medical dispute is dragging on. Teachers are leaving their classrooms to take to the streets. Ordinary citizen are growing increasingly intolerant of the constant barrage of bickering. Where is the government? What are our leaders doing?

Economic policies, which the present administration has been tackling, are in a state of virtual limbo. The promise of four major reforms, the mantra "restructuring" has amounted to a hill of beans. The government promised to conclude by the end of this month a few important projects, including restructuring the financial sector and selling Daewoo Motors. That the same officials who were so quick to make the promises are now busy looking for excuses.

The dispute over medical reform seems intractable. How can a government fail to guarantee the basic health of its citizenry?

Not long after the government took power, it set up the Tripartite Commission of Labor, Government and Management to deal with labor issues and to promote social reforms. The commission has so issued demands that inspire countless demonstrations by labor unions and political disputes.

The government is proud of its achievements in fostering ties with North Korea. They earned President Kim Dae-jung the Nobel Prize. But it is not certain yet how much progress has been made towards permanent peace. The issue of North-South relationship is not just about the achievements of one or two people. The relationship must improve and expand for the long-term stabilization of the nation. In this context, we wonder if we are really taking a positive part in the process, or if the people's views are being considered at all.

Recent financial scandals have cast doubt on the government's stomach for reform. There is widespread suspicion that officers of the organization in charge of overseeing financial institutions accept bribes and overlook irregularities; that politicians protect these people; and that the main aim of judicial authorities' is to gloss over the problems. The Government is quickly losing the people's trust.

We are at a critical juncture, when unwise actions may lead to another crisis. What we are most curious about, is whether President Kim is fully aware of the situation. What we have been seeing in recent weeks makes us suspect that the Blue House is out of touch with reality.

The concentration of power in the presidency, helped by the president's stubbornness, has paralyzed the bureaucracy and turned the Millennium Democratic Party into a bunch of opportunists. Government officials are glossing over problems, claiming there cannot be another financial crisis or that the economic fundamentals are sound. Public servants are reluctant to take positive measures, concerned only about their own well being. When a government is despised and people deride the law, there is no way government policies can be effective.

We advise President Kim to listen carefully and hear the real voices of discontent. Then he will be able to repair the government in such a way that it will again be effective and politics will serve the people. Changes to avoid a crisis will not come about through clumsy political alliances. Nor will they come from poor communication and co-operation between the ruling party and the Government. We call on the president to overhaul of the Government to avert another crisis.