[Editorial] No progress made in partisan politics

The political situation in Korea seems to have turned downright disgraceful as we face the new year.

Three ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) representatives are realigning themselves with the United Liberal Democrats (ULD) to give enough numbers of party representatives for the ULD to form a negotiating bloc within the National Assembly in nothing more than a deceptive ploy regardless of rationales the parties offer.

In the new days of the new year, which should be full of renewed hopes for the political situation, dark clouds seem to be gathering. What are the nation's leaders thinking of?

The seats in the National Assembly are not things that can be borrowed or lent. They should not be traded around between parties for political leverage and convenience. Each and every one of them represent the people and are in fact the instrument of lawmaking. However, the ruling MDP and the ULD are using them as trading cards in mockery of the system. As they do so, they have trampled on the very dignity of the system of lawmaking and the representation voted on by the people.

The representation elected by the people have no significance, as the representatives shift their party affiliation for their convenience and power games. Such acts not only a betrayal of the citizens who had voted for them, but also demoralize democracy.

The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has called such ploy by the ULD as being a political coup d'etat. The GNP also has requested that the courts prevent the establishment of a negotiation bloc by the ULD, as it was nothing more than a temporary loan of the representatives by the MDP and should not qualify as a negotiating bloc.

How could the people of Korea feel any hope at all for the political situation when on the very first work day of the new year the politicians continue their blood-thirsty confrontation much like last year and threaten to involve the court? With every move by the ruling party, which ignores the system of governance involving talks and negotiations, seeming to reek with conspiracy, the future of the political situation in Korea seems only too obvious, a lamentable one.

The incoherent excuses by the MDP and the ULD only worsen the people's disfavor.

Explanations such as, "The defection of the three representatives was a complete surprise," or, "They are free to act according to their own regardless of party affiliation," seem absurd and detestable. If they had come straight with the people and said, "As the inability of the ULD to form a negotiating bloc has stalled the National Assembly on several occasions, it was an inevitable choice," they would not have to be so mocked.

With the new-year meeting between President Kim Dae-Jung and the chairman of the opposition GNP Lee Hoi-Chang scheduled, the latest development clearly demonstrates the lack of maturity of our political system.

President Kim, during his new year speech, spoke about unity and cooperation concerning the political situation. However, the reality of the situation is closer to a back stabbing. Through such untrustworthy political philosophy, hope for overcoming the crisis, reviving the economy, unifying the Korean people and easing the regionalism is nil.

Those responsible for having shattered the hopes of the people for a renewed and mature political body in the new year should reflect upon themselves and repent.