Chung’s Newly Embellished Campaign Promises

United New Democratic Party (UNDP) presidential candidate Chung Dong-young announced yesterday that he would run a campaign centered around “values,” and suggested that Grand National Party candidate Lee Myung-bak take the same strategy.

He told reporters yesterday at his party headquarters in Seoul, “I believe values are different from ideologies. Values represent the future direction of our country to me.”

Chung’s value theory –

Chung said he would accept whatever the voters decide in the end and proposed a “deadly debate” between Lee and himself, and another debate session between party representatives in front of 1,000 civilian jurors.

Writing on a whiteboard, Chung stressed his five core values: happy families, open society, economic development with equal benefits to all citizens, integration incorporating the disadvantaged in society, and unification with North Korea.

Taking his typical dichotomy approach, Chung wants to depict himself as the one who cares about the disadvantaged in society, while belittling Lee’s ideas as old and beneficial only to the vested. His dichotomy approach is seemingly intended to make the presidential election into a war between the haves and the have-nots, while avoiding public criticism about his empty ideology war.

Commenting on candidate Lee’s promise to allow manufacturers to own banks, Chung alleged that Lee’s policy would only benefit Korean chaebols.

UNDP spokesman Choi Jae-cheon added, “Values are policies. We will support our values with details. Our policies are in stark contrast with Lee’s. Lee’s stance on bank ownership and the inter-Korean summit illustrates the difference.”

Chung’s new policies essentially rooted in Roh’s ideas –

South Koreans, however, do not see how his values differ from Roh Moo-hyun’s ideas, which the public has abhorred for the past five years.

In response, Chung admitted, “The Roh administration did not fully honor its promises. It failed to protect the socially disadvantaged as promised. In the face of the sluggish economy, it could not realize its goals.”

To honor his five values, Chung alleged that he would eradicate 5 discriminations in society, such as income differences.

At the helm of Roh Moo-hyun’s party, Chung pointed out five “socially polarized” areas, including income and education, and advocated 6 follow-up working plans. Entering the UNDP primary in July, he stressed the need for a middle-of-the-road approach in addressing the social unbalance.

Chung also announced that he would not organize a special intra-party body to orchestrate his campaign efforts.

In addition, Chung promised to open up a post office box called the “Bank of Happiness” so that citizens can send him their policy suggestions.

tesomiom@donga.com