[In-Depth Look] Arrogance and Humility

Ham Hyeri / Journalist·Cultural Critic

Politics is the act of governing a country. How? Naturally, it must be done correctly and well. Since not everyone can step forward, the people elected as representatives to create laws for proper and good governance are the members of the National Assembly, and the civil servants are those who concretize and execute the laws using the taxpayers' money. It is the judiciary's role to make rulings based on the law.

This is the basic principle of democracy known as the separation of powers. The reason for separating the three powers is to allow the other two to check one if it wields too much power. The media plays the role of monitoring whether the legislative, judicial, and executive branches maintain proper balance, check each other appropriately, and work well for the people. Hence, it is also called the 'Fourth Estate.' The reason for discussing these fundamental matters is the concern that the power control system is breaking down and the principles of democracy are being disrupted.

Watching the ruling party, which holds 176 seats, pass 13 bills including the 'Lease Protection Act' in half a day without any debate or detailed review, no one can deny the thought that the legislature is wielding excessive power. The executive branch, riding on the ruling party's dominance, is even more astonishing. They shamelessly present flawed laws and shortsighted policies. They seem indifferent to how these policies will affect the lives of the people and the economy in the future. Ruling party lawmakers rush to make statements that suit their tastes and pass laws without even reviewing their contents.

With such a strong backing, the attitude of ministers attending the National Assembly's government questioning sessions has also changed significantly from before. Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, who appears to be at odds with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, glared at lawmakers who asked questions that upset her, lost her temper, and even shouted. It is astonishing that a minister behaves at this level in the National Assembly.

The words and actions of the country's leaders should serve as examples to the people, yet harsh language and behavior devoid of consideration, understanding, or depth of thought prevail. If this behavior is summed up in two syllables, it is 'arrogance,' and in four syllables, 'arrogant and insolent.' Wasn't President Moon Jae-in's inaugural speech a pledge for 'humble power'? That pledge seems to have vanished, leaving only 'power,' which is regrettable and uncomfortable.

There is also a saying that the more ripe the rice, the more it bows its head. A humble and modest attitude is regarded as an essential human virtue. The classic on character cultivation, Sohak, teaches "Injideokhaeng gyeomyang wisang (人之德行 謙讓爲上)," meaning that humility and modesty are the highest virtues of a person's moral conduct. People often worry that showing humility might make them appear lacking in confidence and thus vulnerable to attack or contempt from others. However, this is absolutely not the case. One can persuasively present their arguments and achieve their goals with a humble attitude. There is, however, a condition: one must think beyond personal desires or private emotions, consider the greater good, and foresee the long-term consequences of their opinions or claims. Moreover, that humility must come sincerely from the heart. Only then can it move hearts and elicit empathy.

John Hennessy, former president of Stanford University, compiled the lessons he learned as a professor and entrepreneur in his book How Adults Grow. Recognized as one of the greatest intellects of our time, he summarized the conditions of leadership into ten qualities, naming 'humility' as the foremost. He asserts that without humility, growth is impossible.

There are many people who need humility the most right now. For them, I share a passage from the book: "Arrogance makes one focus only on their strengths while ignoring their weaknesses and others' strengths, ultimately leading to major mistakes. In contrast, humility reveals where our weaknesses lie, helping us to improve. Humility is the means by which we can gain confidence."