[The Editors' Verdict]Self-Praise That Invites Criticism

On the 21st, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport released data on the effects of the implementation of the Three Lease Laws. The ministry stated, "The Three Lease Laws represent the biggest institutional change the lease market has experienced in over 30 years since the contract period extension in 1989. Although there was some initial confusion during the introduction, based on data from the lease reporting system, the laws have been steadily established. The intended goals of the system, such as extending tenants' residence periods and maintaining low rent increase rates, have been confirmed."

Countless real estate measures have been introduced by this government, which once claimed, "We are confident about real estate." Many non-homeowning tenants, who were forced to settle due to rising housing prices and the difficulty of affording monthly rents, and who already worry about the hellish conditions after lease renewals, have reacted with not just ridicule but anger to the Ministry of Land's self-praise. The administration has less than a year left, and after that, the Blue House, ministers, vice ministers, department heads, and their duties will all change. There will be no one to take responsibility. Even if accountability is pursued belatedly, it will be brushed off with phrases like "I have already stepped down," "I was only involved in the practical work," or "I apologized back then," and that will be the end of it.

The self-praise from the Blue House and the Ministry of National Defense regarding the Cheonghae Unit transport operation also provokes laughter. The military is the nation's last bastion. What the government and military must do is to nurture an army and soldiers who can risk their lives for the people in both peacetime and wartime. Nevertheless, the military has been criticized for weakening its own military strength through a series of incidents?from the fence breaches involving knock and swimming defections to recent events such as the Air Force non-commissioned officer death case, poor meal controversies, and the Cheonghae Unit's mass infection. Repeated apologies from the Minister of National Defense and the Chiefs of Staff of each service branch lead one to believe this will not be the last.

As COVID-19 cases continued to rise despite the metropolitan area being under Level 4 social distancing, the government extended Level 4 in the metropolitan area and raised the alert to Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas. The president, who had said "Let's finish it quickly and decisively in two weeks," expressed, "I am very sorry and saddened that the time of suffering has been prolonged." Even non-experts find it hard to believe whether the restrictions can be eased again after two weeks, whether the easing will successfully prevent a resurgence of cases and the balloon effect in non-metropolitan areas, or whether the hopeful atmosphere of June (that cautious daily life could resume from July) will return. Distrust and skepticism seem to outweigh confidence.

COVID-19 is an unprecedented path for the entire world. The only way forward is for all members, centered around the control tower (the Blue House, the relevant ministries, and the quarantine authorities, which can be confusing), to lead from the front and support from behind. To navigate this uncharted path, encouragement, support, and hope are necessary, but unnecessary remarks such as "Are there no questions because the quarantine is so well done?" or "The world recognizes K-quarantine" are not needed. The success of quarantine depends primarily on the lives and well-being of our people, and the conclusions of the authorities and the public must align based on the results. Whether foreign governments and citizens recognize it or not, such praise seems meaningless.

Our athletes who participated in the Tokyo Olympics have become a hot topic. Archers Kim Je-deok and An San, judokas An Chang-rim and An Ba-ul, swimmer Hwang Sun-woo, and table tennis player Shin Yu-bin, among others, shouted "Korea Fighting." Regardless of whether they won medals, the public is giving them wholehearted applause for their best efforts. While our society can be stingy with self-praise, these athletes are humble and instead credit their families, seniors and juniors, teammates, coaches, and ultimately the nation. This is why they deserve even more and louder applause.