[EDITORIALS]Voices of reason in Uri Party

Inside the Uri Party, voices of self-examination have been raised. The fact that such voices were raised not at some informal meeting but during a parliamentary interpellation session calls for attention. Although they came in the form of advice, the fact that Uri Party lawmakers criticized the president’s management of the country and the recent comments made by Prime Minister Lee Hai-chan regarding the opposition party bear some importance. The current leadership has to take into account that the criticism came from the governing party itself.
Representative Kim Boo-kyum advised President Roh to take a step back from ideological issues. “Political issues should be handled by the ruling and opposition parties and the National Assembly. In ideological issues, the best way is to be indifferent,” Mr. Kim asserted. He added that the president’s message has to be subtle.
Representative Shin Hak-yong said that instead of rushing for reforms, cooperation with the opposition is needed even if it takes longer, and public opinion should also be measured. Representative Yang Seung-jo went further. “When I think of how little hope and satisfaction I have given to the people, I feel sorry,” he said.
Although late, such voices are coming out from the governing party now and that is positive news. The political dialogue these days is usually full of hatred and hostility. There is no trace of dignity and common sense. The key officials of the governing party are responsible for such a state. Nevertheless, they are far from being apologetic. Instead, they are under the illusion that they are right.
After the Constitutional Court ruled against his expectations, President Roh is creating his own confusion by making comments that he is worried that confusion in the constitutional order would result from the decision.
Prime Minister Lee refused to apologize for comments made during his trip to Europe. He said the country’s major conservative newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo and Dong-a Ilbo, committed treachery against history, and added that if the opposition party came to power, history would go backward. We have to doubt that the Prime Minister can perform his job in the current situation.
The people in question have to listen humbly to the words of their own party that are warning that the president and prime minister should act in accordance with their position.