[EDITORIALS]Foolishness at the top

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[EDITORIALS]Foolishness at the top

When the nation is in confusion, violent words abound, but there are people who should maintain their dignity and integrity. Civil servants in particular should pay more attention to what they say and do, especially senior officials with strong influence.
However, the situation is to the contrary. Highly placed people are pouring out unacceptable words. They even use abusive language. Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan said, “The press keep pressing the government to revive the economy. Perhaps the advertising market would run more smoothly if the economy revived.” What absurd words!
He had said a month earlier, “I will reform regulations drastically to revive the economy.” A week ago, he said, “Our economy will live again,” if an atmosphere for consumption is created. Does he mean that the economy has revived in the past month? Otherwise, does he mean that the press should not let people know the problems in our economy by reporting them?
Did the press decide that the economy was in recession on its own? As economic experts, even the deputy prime minister of finance and cabinet ministers make statements to that effect and the press relays their words to the readers. Despite that, he suddenly put the blame on the press. We feel stunned at what he said. From his remark, “President Roh and I have ruled the country with dignity. We have never compromised with immorality,” we can sense his self-righteousness and anxiety.
Han Sang-beom, chairman of the Presidential Commission on Suspicious Deaths, makes things even worse with his senseless statements. He said, “During the Japanese rule, they beat to death independence fighters and after liberation, they shot them to death. Now they talk about coexisitence.” According to him, pro-Japanese collaborators in their 80s and 90s are the people who demand a politics of coexistence now. Since the launching of this administration, it has been President Roh who advocated the politics of coexistence first.
Mr. Han snarled, “Where is a country which defends itself with a National Security Law?” Where is he from? What country, other than South Korea, is confronting a formidable military force that provoked an invasion and war and still aims at communizing the South if it can?
Mr. Han is a suspicious chairman of a suspicious commission, whose head is filled with suspicious ideas.
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