[Yes and No] Again with ‘Taneun Mokmareum-euro’

[Asia Economy]

In 1975, poet Kim Ji-ha published the poem "With Burning Thirst," which expressed a passionate desire for democracy.

The poem reflects the yearning for democracy suffocated by the Yushin regime. Of course, it also yearned for freedom, as expressed in the line "the memory of that green freedom I have lived through."

Recently, we often witness the distortion and corruption of the liberal democracy that was protected with burning thirst. In particular, so-called democratization forces are leading the way in distorting and corrupting democracy while wearing armbands.

In the 1980s, as the nation, people, and populace combined with democracy, pseudo-democracy based on class flourished. The common point was that it aimed for communism (socialism).

Therefore, not all calls for democratization in the 1980s can be considered true democratization in the genuine sense. This is merely an illusion created by the misconception that our society unconditionally trusts the word "democracy." Hence, it is important to evaluate democratization based on what kind of democratization it was.

In fact, the word democracy is used regardless of the system. For Hitler, Lenin, and Stalin, democracy was merely a means of oppressive rule.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a three-generation hereditary totalitarian state, is in the same context. We must not forget the disastrous history that democracy, when distorted, is abused as a tool for dictatorship or oppression. Therefore, democracy has always been an object of vigilance, and institutional devices such as checks and balances and the rule of law are essential to prevent its distortion.

We must also understand the concealed meanings. In the early 2010s, there was an attempt to root "progressive democracy," a term favored by Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, in South Korea.

Fortunately, the fact that the essence of "progressive democracy" aimed at communism based on class was revealed led to its rejection. It is important to note that the people's democracy (nation and populace) that flourished in the 1980s was a derivative of "progressive democracy."

The democracy we encounter in daily life is not people's democracy based on class but liberal democracy combined with individual dignity and freedom.

Liberal democracy is the spirit and identity of our constitution. No government can arbitrarily damage or abolish the nation's identity. However, some democratization forces intentionally avoid mentioning "freedom." Such behavior inevitably raises reasonable suspicion that they are leading the way in damaging our identity.

The Moon Jae-in administration is no exception. Recent words, actions, and policies related to identity damage are cause for concern.

These include President Moon Jae-in's 2019 Memorial Day speech praising Kim Won-bong, who pointed a gun at the Republic of Korea during the Korean War; the government's enactment of the law banning leaflets to North Korea; avoiding participation for three consecutive years as a sponsor country of the UN's North Korean human rights resolution; weakening institutional devices to protect the Republic of Korea's identity through amendments to the National Security Act; and attempts to enact special privilege laws to give special treatment to democratization forces.

All of these are contents that distort and threaten liberal democracy and do not help North Korean democratization (liberalization) at all.

The reason we emphasize liberal democracy is our strong belief that freedom is the driving force of development, a shield for the advancement of human rights, and a superior institutional device that guarantees equality of opportunity and fairness of process.

In other words, democracy does not necessarily guarantee freedom, but freedom guarantees democracy, equality, human rights, fairness, and peace. Therefore, liberal democracy is a precious value that all of us must protect, and it is everyone's responsibility to preserve and cultivate liberal democracy. Hence, we yearn for liberal democracy. Again, "with burning thirst."

Jo Young-gi, Special Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University