イ・ジェミョン大統領をノ・ムヒョン大統領のようにしてはいけない(Do Not Turn President Lee Jae-myung into Another Roh Moo-hyun)
韓国の現イ・ジェミョン大統領は、過去のノ・ムヒョン大統領に非常に似ている。 貧しい家庭出身で、大統領にまで上り詰める立場の典型的な例である。 また、庶民のために尽くし、質素で、演説も卓越していた。
陣営論理よりも国家の利益のための決定を優先した。
しかし、今この陣営論理がイ・ジェミョン大統領を苦しめている。
次期与党代表選挙を前に、与党代表を獲得するために陣営論理で票を集め、党を掌握しようとする試みがあるからだ。
与党の民主党の中で陣営論理を強調し、李在明大統領の政策に反対し、さらには攻撃まで行う姿が見られる。 現在は李在明大統領が政権初期で支持率が高いからといって、任期後半であったり支持率が低下した状況であれば、陣営論理の勢力の前で過去の盧武鉉大統領と同様の事態が起こり得る状況である。
盧武鉉大統領は国益のために韓米FTAを推し進めた。 しかし、陣営論理に陥った民主党議員や勢力は盧武鉉大統領を非難し、全員が去ってしまった。 盧武鉉大統領は惨めに見捨てられた。 しかし、現在のFTAは大韓民国の産業を存続させ、国を先進国の列に押し上げた。 過去にノムヒョン大統領を批判していた勢力は、今や過去の反省もなく、まるで何事もなかったかのようにノムヒョン大統領のマーケティングを行っている。 本当に滑稽で、怒りがこみ上げる。
現在の李在明大統領も同様である。 陣営論理に陥った極端な大きな声を上げる人々に引きずられる政治家や勢力が存在する。 彼らは自分たちの利益のために大統領を揺さぶるだろう。 任期の初めにもかかわらず、こんなに非協力的な姿勢に非常に疑いの確信を持っている。
捨てられたノムヒョン大統領は、結局自殺という非常に痛ましい傷を残した。
イ・ジェミョン大統領をノ・ムヒョン大統領のようにしてはいけない。
イ・ジェミョン大統領の国益のための姿に感動していないのか？ 国のための彼の行動に称賛を送り、力を添えるべき時なのに、与党の民主党の一部の議員たちは一体何をしているのか？
党代表となり、次期国会議員の公認権をしっかりと握り、自らの勢力にしていくというあまりにも明白な悪行を繰り返している。
野党が極右勢力に左右されていると嘲笑し非難していた与党の民主党も、陣営論理に陥った急進的な勢力によって結局左右されるのか、問い直したい。
地方選挙が与党の民主党がうまくやったからこの程度の当選が可能だったわけではない。 李在明大統領が全国を回り、保守的な色彩が強かった地域を説得し、民意を汲み取ったからだ。
特に江原道はこれまで保守の牙城のような存在だった。 北朝鮮との国境地域で、反共思想が強く保守的な色合いが濃かった場所である。 しかし、大統領が北朝鮮との国境地帯で善意の被害を受けながら生活している地域住民を思いやったため、与党は勝利することができた。 しかし、民主党の当選者はその感謝も知らず、陣営論理に加担している。
自分たちの権力だけを考え、国民を無視する政治家たちの姿に胸が苦しい一日だ。（Qの希望）
South Korea’s current President, Lee Jae-myung, bears many similarities to former President Roh Moo-hyun. Both rose from humble beginnings to the highest office in the nation through extraordinary determination and effort. Both have been known for their concern for ordinary citizens, their modest lifestyles, and their powerful public speaking abilities.
Most importantly, both placed the national interest above ideological divisions and partisan loyalties.
However, it is precisely this partisan mentality that is now making President Lee’s job more difficult.
As the ruling party prepares for its next leadership election, some politicians appear more interested in consolidating power within the party than in supporting the president’s agenda. In their efforts to secure votes and strengthen their own factions, they are emphasizing ideological divisions and, in some cases, openly opposing or even attacking policies promoted by President Lee.
At present, President Lee enjoys strong approval ratings and is still in the early stages of his administration. But if his popularity were to decline in the future, the situation could become much more dangerous. Looking at the current behavior of certain factions, one cannot help but be reminded of what happened to President Roh Moo-hyun.
President Roh pushed forward the Korea–U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) because he believed it was in the national interest. Yet many politicians and activists within his own political camp fiercely criticized him and abandoned him. He was left politically isolated.
Today, however, the FTA is widely recognized as one of the foundations that helped sustain South Korea’s industrial competitiveness and contributed to the country's rise among advanced economies. Ironically, many of those who once condemned Roh now invoke his legacy without any serious reflection on their past opposition. I find that deeply frustrating and difficult to accept.
President Lee now faces a similar challenge. There are politicians and political groups who seem willing to follow the loudest and most extreme voices trapped in partisan thinking. For their own political interests, they will likely attempt to undermine the president whenever it benefits them. Even at the beginning of his term, their lack of cooperation is already visible.
The tragedy of President Roh should never be forgotten. Abandoned and isolated, he ultimately left behind one of the most painful chapters in modern Korean political history.
We must not allow President Lee to suffer the same fate.
Many citizens have been inspired by President Lee’s commitment to putting the national interest first. This should be a time to support and encourage such leadership. Yet some lawmakers within the ruling Democratic Party seem focused on entirely different goals.
Their actions suggest an obsession with securing the party leadership, controlling future nomination processes, and expanding their own political factions. The pursuit of power has become so obvious that it is difficult to ignore.
For years, the ruling party criticized the opposition for being controlled by extreme factions. Yet one must now ask whether the Democratic Party itself risks being dominated by radical forces driven by the same kind of factional politics.
The recent local election victories were not achieved simply because the Democratic Party performed exceptionally well. Much of the success came from President Lee’s tireless efforts to travel across the country, listen to citizens, and persuade voters in regions traditionally skeptical of his party.
Gangwon Province is a particularly clear example. For decades, it was considered a conservative stronghold. Located near the border with North Korea, the region has long been shaped by strong anti-communist sentiment and conservative political traditions. Yet President Lee took the time to understand the hardships faced by residents who have borne the burdens of living in a border region. His willingness to listen and show empathy helped the ruling party achieve success there.
What is disappointing is that some politicians who benefited from that success now appear willing to participate in the very factional politics that threaten the president’s leadership.
On a day like today, it is difficult not to feel frustrated by politicians who seem focused only on their own power while disregarding the wishes of the people they were elected to serve.(Q's hope)
