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[Opinion] Kim Geun- Tae and Park Geun-Hye

Posted March. 16, 2002 09:51,   

한국어

Kim Geun-Tae and Park Geun-Hye. It is not easy to be reminded of the two simultaneously.

It is probably because of disharmony which comes from two antithetical images, one is daughter of President and the other is the one who protested his despotism.

Image generates prejudice.

Prejudice that is caused by the image of `daughter of dictator` might have created embarrassment that is what we felt when Ms. Park G.H withdrew from Grand National Party, saying that GNP doesn`t listen to her request for democratization of party.

Such prejudices can be quite unfair to her.

However, if ` background of father` was absolute for today`s Park.G. H, internal shadow is also her cost that she should take into account and overcome.

If we admit that clear shading exists still in `how should we perceive Park Chung-Hee`, can be karma of `politician Park.G. H`.

She said in an interview with Jang Myeong-Soo publisher of `Hankook Ilbo`, “ why I have special consciousness on democracy is because I think about my father”

It meant that as she believes that former President Park Chung-Hee, her father, wanted to achieve democratization after completing modernization at first, therefore, it is obvious task for her considering making efforts for democracy.

Considering that democracy without physical base is weak, is not completely wrong theory.

However, father`s long dictatorship can`t be justified by only assumption of `daughter`s belief `.

In last May when Ms. Park.G.H was vice president of GNP, she requested President Lee Hoi-Chang to state `his views on Park.Chung-Hee`.

In my opinion, she might be pressing on him to admit her father`s achievement for modernization.

Her theory falls into a pitfall here.

If `special consciousness on democracy ` which she says stays only at that level of historic viewpoint, her task is heard in vain.

By the way, Ms. Park.G.H rose as core member of rumored new party as well as one of Presidential contender.

She herself doesn`t hide the hope of becoming woman president.

Whether the hope can come true, or become bubble, we should observe more.

But, one thing what I can say clearly is that her hope can reach results only in `day- dreams` unless she is reborn completely as `political leader Park.G.H ` independent from `the daughter of Park Chung-Hee`.

She should pass `national verification` that must be the first task for her, in fact.

It is hard to say about `frustration of Kim Geun- Tae` in succession with `the hope of Park G.H`.

When `daughter of Park Chung-Hee` came out, kicking party`s door, shouting democracy grandly, Kim G.T on the other hand got, namely `wang ta ` from democratization fellows.

`Senior person in Donggyo-dong part` who stated to give 20 million won to Kim.G.T said, “ I gave money because he teased too much”.

He was insulted like that.

He got only 26 votes in primary at Jeju and Ulsan.

He was miserably last.

Sarcastic comments, “ are you clean alone? ” ostracized him thoroughly.

His `conscious confession` won support outdoors, however he brought only ridicule upon himself indoors.

Primary that is called `election revolution`, while throwing him away, became smudged by random mobilization competition, distribution of money and values.

Nevertheless, acclamation that `it is profitable business` is main stream in New Millennium Democratic Party (NMDP), it meant that it succeeded to make people pay attention to, by exciting ranking competition every weekend .

He said to remember him as `a beautiful last one`.

However, he should have gone till the end, if he tried to become `a beautiful last one` really.

Even though it is painful, he should have shown his will for clean politics till the end.

It was his `task`.

It can be heard harshly; however, he gave up his task too early and failed to reveal the substance of the matter.

I do not want to consider this frustration as `failure of politician Kim.G.T`.

He used to always say, “ we can change history with dream and hope”.

He entered political world in 1995, saying, “ I will change current politics”.

The wall of current politics might be too high for him to change.

However, he should look back at his limitations, too.

Whether he lost the timing of decision by too much carefulness, or he lost balance of cool perception on realism inclining on reason and idealism, he should reflect.

He said, “ hope is strong”.

Frustration is somewhat another aspect of hope, then, despair can become strength.

He said that now is the time to be quiet.

However, political world notices confused changing alignment.

He should stand up again to say hope.

`His task` hasn`t finished yet.

Jeon Jin-Woo (Editorial Writer)