[Editorial] Presidential Transition Committee Should Diagnose Ailments of Nation

The pro-Roh faction within Millennium Democratic Party objects the interpretation that Roh`s winning this election is a power recreation of Kim Dae Jung administration. President-elect Roh Moo-hyun repeatedly stressed during the campaign that if he got elected, it would be the beginning of Roh Moo-hyun administration, not an extension of the Kim administration. Now with Roh elected as next President, the pro-Roh fraction including standing advisor Cho Soon-hyung announced, "Election of Roh is not the power recreation of Kim Dae Jung administration," and demanded the party be dismantled for improvement.

In response, the old mainstream including the Donggyo Dong faction is alleging that Roh¢s victory is the recreation since most of the supporters of Kim Dae Jung showed enthusiastic supports to Roh. The faction contends that if it had not been the support of the districts worshiping President Kim Dae Jung, Roh would not have won the election. Therefore, according to the faction, it is absurd to deny its origin now.

It does not matter which side is right. In any respect, the hegemony war feels out of place. Regardless of the process, if the majority of the citizens put the nation in the hands of a party, the party should try its best to come up with new directions and constructive blueprint for its future. That is how to respect the support of the citizens. It has nothing to do with ordinary citizens whether Roh¢s victory is Kim administration¢s recreation or not. It just looks like an intraparty power struggle.

Of course, our fellow citizens do not seem to have condoned the failures and corruptions of Kim Dae Jung administration by giving support to Roh. The pro-Roh faction, however, is not so much free from the failures and corruptions as the pro-Kim faction. Then, it becomes crystal-clear what Millennium Democratic Party should do in the future. The party has to transform itself in a rational way, and to earn the trust of the citizens. One example could be found in the ongoing discussion about the American-style political party system.

Despite the joy of having selected new President, we are worrying about the rising tension over North Korea¢s nuclear weapons program and the looming economic crisis. Under these critical circumstances, the ruling party, or Millennium Democratic Party is engaging itself in the useless argument over the nature of Roh administration. The party needs reforming. It is so obvious that no further explanation is necessary. It is not desirable, however, that the reform efforts are being understood as an intraparty struggle. Screening out old guys should be made naturally through reforming process.