Increase in Books Criticizing Moon Administration
Professor Lee Byung-cheon: "Today's Korea, a 'Tilted Playing Field' in Power Structure and Institutions"
Critic Yoo Chang-sun: "Lack of Conflict Management Leadership"
Professor Choi Jang-jip: "Political Failure of Activist and 'Ppa' Factions"
President Moon Jae-in is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House on the morning of the 16th. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Progressive intellectuals voicing criticism of the Moon Jae-in administration are increasing. Summarizing their evaluations of this administration, while there were public achievements such as successfully leading COVID-19 quarantine efforts, there were also serious side effects, including increased real estate speculation and intensified conflicts within civil society. One progressive intellectual strongly criticized, "In the Moon Jae-in administration, if someone thinks differently from me, they are condemned as deep-rooted evils," adding, "Leadership that mediates conflicts does not function."
Recently, books containing harsh criticism of President Moon Jae-in have been published one after another. The 'Intellectual Declaration Network for Socioeconomic Reform' (Network), involving 323 progressive intellectuals including Lee Byungcheon, Professor Emeritus at Kangwon National University, Kim Taedong, Professor Emeritus at Sungkyunkwan University, and Cho Donmun, Chairman of the Roh Hoe-chan Foundation, recently published 'The Candlelight Asks Again' (Dongnyuk), criticizing various government policies.
The Network had previously, at its founding in July 2018, issued the 'Intellectual Declaration Urging Bold Social and Economic Reform of the Moon Jae-in Government,' expressing expectations that "President Moon should trust the candlelight citizens and move forward."
However, in the recently published book, they criticized the policies pursued during the three years of the Moon Jae-in administration.
Books by progressive intellectuals offering "harsh criticism" of the Moon Jae-in administration are increasing. The photo shows political commentator Yoo Chang-sun's book, I Am Right and You Are Wrong (Inmulgwa Sasangsa). Photo by Naver homepage capture
First, Professor Lee Byungcheon stated in the book's preface, "Under the Moon Jae-in administration, South Korea has regained the appearance of a normal country in many respects and was highly praised internationally as a model country for quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic," but he diagnosed, "Today’s South Korea is a 'tilted playing field' in all aspects including power structure, institutional framework, political culture, and public value orientation."
Professor Jeon Gangsu of the Department of Economics, Finance, and Real Estate at Catholic University of Daegu strongly criticized the government's real estate policy. He said, "The ratio of land assets to GDP in Korea in 2018 and 2019 was overwhelmingly high, a result caused by the real estate speculation frenzy that occurred after the Moon Jae-in administration took office," and criticized, "Indiscriminate public urban development continued, the country fell into a real estate republic, and the government failed to properly respond or establish fundamental measures to eradicate real estate speculation."
Meanwhile, there was also criticism that the Moon Jae-in administration failed to show an inclusive attitude toward diverse opinions in civil society.
Political commentator Yoo Changsun, in his recently published book 'I Am Right and You Are Wrong' (Inmulgwa Sasangsa), pointed out, "In the so-called candlelight government of Moon Jae-in, if you think differently from me, you are condemned as deep-rooted evils, and if opinions differ, you are stigmatized as 'native Japanese collaborators' (Tochak Waegu)," adding, "Leadership that mediates and resolves conflicts does not function."
He further noted, "This is because the president cannot step outside the narrow boundaries of his political camp in state affairs."
Meanwhile, this is not the first time progressive intellectuals have voiced critical opinions about the government.
Choi Jangjip, Professor Emeritus at Korea University and regarded as a senior progressive intellectual, has repeatedly criticized the Moon Jae-in administration publicly through lectures, essays, and media interviews.
In a paper titled 'Rethinking Korean Democracy' submitted to the Seoul National University Institute of Korean Politics in June last year, Professor Choi diagnosed, "After the candlelight protests, the emergence of the Moon Jae-in administration was expected to be a turning point marking a new stage for Korean democracy, but now Korean democracy is in crisis," adding, "This crisis stems from the political failure of the elite group from the student activist generation and the so-called 'ppa' (a term referring to extreme fan groups) forces allied with them."
He further pointed out, "They have more influence than party leaders and mobilize groups during candidate selection and election processes to exert influence," concluding, "As a result, they play a negative role in party politics and election processes."
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