Three qualifications for the next president

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Three qualifications for the next president

Published: 25 Apr. 2024, 19:42

Kim Hyun-ki
The author is an editorial writer of the JoongAng Ilbo.

President Yoon Suk Yeol could soon outdo his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in being least popular with their people, given his recent approval rating’s free fall to 23 percent, nearly on par with the 22 percent of the Japanese prime minister, dubbed as one of the most unpopular postwar Japanese leaders. Few meetings these days go by without hearing frustrated or angry remarks about President Yoon.

Conservatives are fuming, too. Many say they don’t watch TV news because of him. Nine out of 10 do not believe he would change, even though he pledged to change. The traditionally rightist newspapers have joined the denouncing chorus in an abrupt about-face from praising him over the last two years — despite their persistent feeding of his ego and self worth.

The election scorecard paints the conservative People Power Party (PPP) severely fragmented, favored only by three groups: people in their 70s or older, people living in rich neighborhoods, and residents in the southeastern Yeongnam region. Even voters in their 60s have turned their backs. Out of 122 seats representing the capital region, it won just 16 percent. The PPP can hardly be called a governing party. Its fate could be foreseen as the party’s election strategy was to “stop the opposition Democratic Party [DP] from winning an overwhelming majority.” At this rate, the PPP could face a fourth straight defeat in the parliamentary election four years later.

The map of the election results once again underscored the sharp divide of the country — blue (DP) on the left and red (PPP) on the right. The onus falls on the leader. It raised an acute awareness among voters to think deeply before they choose a president. But whether the voters’ sobriety will last through the next presidential election is uncertain.

In my perspective, we must look for three qualifications in the next president.

First, we should not vote for an overnight sensation, as it means a roller coaster ride for five years. Former U.S. President Barack Obama did not rise to stardom out of the blue. He had built his political credentials as an Illinois senator for eight years from 1996. In Japan, a politician must serve in the Diet for minimum 20 years to qualify for premiership candidacy.

The training and screening process is more rigorous in China. Politicians must start from the bottom, survive apprenticeship in factories, and serve in provincial and central government offices. They are tested on their national loyalty, capabilities, financial discretion, management of subordinates, and international sensibility from 20 to 30 years. It is how China can find competent leaders even without the democratic election process.

Second, we must select a person with the right attitude. The next president should not be snobbish or look down on the people. Without 24/7 vigilance and responsibility, the person cannot lead the country for five years. I personally do not wish to see another prosecutor-turned-president. The PPP’s crushing defeat in the April 10 parliamentary elections reflects the public discontent with prosecutors posing as politicians. In politics, commitment to serve the people should come before winning. Han Dong-hoon — the PPP interim leader who led the campaign — said he had reached his career peak when he became a prosecutor two decades ago. If he is true to his word, he would know when to stop.

Third, we need a president who can move beyond the loyalty base. Upon confining a voter base, he or she as a leader is confining their leadership boundary. Someone stuck in a YouTube-like mentality cannot be a leader beyond a certain biased tribe. Such leaders cannot reach the broader population whether they be on the right, left or center. We don’t want to see a candidate who says, “What happens in the Taiwanese Strait has nothing to do with us.” One last thing, the next leader should be able to control their spouse no matter what.