[Opinion] Leaders of Society

Every year, media companies visit leaders of the society at the year`s end to invite some of them to year-end and new-year interview programs. Yet, they find it hard to find candidates. Some are intellectual but lack in sense of reality. Some others are experienced but are not appealing enough. Some are critical but unaware of how the world turns around. Then, the list narrows down to Cardinal Kim Su-hwan, former President of Korea University Kim Jun-yeop and Buddhist Monk Beop-jeong. All of the three are, however, known to turn down such offers in most times. The late Buddhist leader Monk Seong-cheol used to say, ˝If you want to interview me, you must first vow to Buddha 3,000 times.˝

Then, why it has become so hard to find leaders of the society in this country, which has a long-held tradition of respecting seniors? First, we have gone through many ups and downs of history. The military regimes in the past were rushing to use respected leaders of the society to justify their ruling, leaving them with stigma of dictators` collaborators regardless of their contributions to the society. Some even jokingly say that even Christ and Buddha would have found it hard to earn respect if they had lived in Korea.

Of course, age and social standing do not necessarily make a leader of the society. You cannot be a leader only because you are old enough. Even if you are successful by the society`s standard, you might lack in integrity and capabilities. There are many old men out there who just do not act like grown-ups, and many people in higher standing behave like crooks. 93-year-old writer Pi Chen-deuk still has a child`s heart. But some politicians in their late 30s have already grown too old.

Chairman of the opposition Grand National Party Choi Byung-ryol said to President Roh Moo-hyun during a meeting at Chong Wae Dae on Sept. 4, ˝You are now a leader of a country. You must act like one.˝ In response, President Roh responded by saying, ˝Have you ever treated me like one?˝ Apart from who is right and who is wrong, it is not pleasant to hear them speak in that way. `Being a leader` and `respecting a leader` are not just about words. They are something that comes from deep inside. Without knowing it, they will not make true political leaders. Yet, we hope to see the day when the president and the leader of the opposition party are duly respected by people.

Oh Myung-chul, Editorial Writer, oscar@donga.com