[EDITORIALS]Post-election politics

President Roh Moo-hyun downplayed the meaning of the May 31 election results by saying that the people were just feeling exhausted from reform measures. He says that when reforms take place, resistance always tags along.
How can we define a reform? In the history of civilization, countless politicians have cried out for reforms, but reforms without consideration for the people’s livelihood turned out to be nothing but political maneuvering. Some politicians say that stirring up the people in a didactic manner is dangerous, but they need to ask themselves who actually sticks to such didacticism.
Both the governing and opposition parties say that they will put top priority on the people’s livelihood at a special session of the National Assembly, scheduled from Monday through June 30.
The heads of the policy boards of both governing and opposition parties said yesterday that they had agreed to consider revisions of the private school law and a proposal for managing the National Housing Fund, which is to provide 2 trillion won ($2 billion) to help people buy homes.
They also decided to handle some bills that are not controversial among the 87 pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and other urgent bills related to the people’s livelihood that are pending at the standing committee.
But on controversial issues like real estate policy, even members of the governing party have not reached a consensus. The Uri Party plans to hold a workshop, and we hope they get a better understanding of the people’s will and try to reflect it in their policies.
Reforms are not carried out with slogans. The people’s livelihood does not improve with only words either. We hope that when President Roh Moo-hyun speaks at the National Assembly on Wednesday, he does not discourage both parties, who are trying hard to make a difference. We also expect that he will show he respects the people’s opinion.
The Grand National Party has heavy responsibilities as well. In the local elections, the people supported the opposition party because they have complaints about the administration’s rule. If the Grand National Party does nothing but oppose Uri Party policies without presenting alternatives, the people’s expectations will change into rage.
Both governing and opposition parties should make a to-do list in order to reflect the people’s will when making policies, and they need to prepare institutional measures to carry them out.