Is President Yoon Suk-yeol's Concept of 'Fairness' Still Valid?

'Beyond Left-Right Division, Politics of Integration' Promised by Yoon
Reminiscent of Former President Charles de Gaulle
Fairness Not Seen in Cabinet Formation
Isn't 'Internal Criticism' a Freedom to Be Exercised?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] In June 2021, when President Yoon Seok-yeol was better known by the title ‘former Prosecutor General,’ I once asked a temporary spokesperson I met in the outdoor yard of the National Assembly what exactly ‘Yoon Seok-yeol’s fairness’ meant. The concept of fairness that then-President Yoon, the former Prosecutor General, often spoke about did not quite resonate with me.

I believe I asked something along the lines of, “There is a saying, ‘Justice is only for the rich, and the poor are punished.’ Just because someone has long been in the legal profession doesn’t necessarily mean they can represent fairness, right?”

The spokesperson replied that President Yoon’s idea of fairness was ‘a bit different.’ I then asked what kind of fairness that was.

At the time, the spokesperson answered, “Politics has always involved left-right conflicts, but it means transcending those to pursue politics of integration.”

Hearing that, I suddenly thought of former French President Charles de Gaulle.

One of de Gaulle’s famous anecdotes involves the philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre volunteering to deliver a money bag containing funds supporting Algerian independence, which was then a French colony. When de Gaulle’s close aides suggested legally punishing Sartre for this act of betrayal, de Gaulle reportedly replied simply,

“Just leave him be. He is French too!”

I guessed that the fairness President Yoon wanted to pursue in politics was similar to de Gaulle’s approach?trying to understand people from opposing political camps.

However, the path President Yoon has shown so far seems to have buttoned up the wrong way, as if caught in the ‘illusion of fairness.’

What I secretly hoped for most was the cabinet appointments. I thought that having no political experience might actually work positively, perhaps leading to the selection of a young person in their 30s or a surprise appointment of someone not from the conservative camp.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the first cabinet of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which emphasized meritocracy, was filled with ‘Seo-Oh-Nam’ (Seoul National University graduates in their 50s, male). It failed to consider diversity, and instead, negative perceptions about concentration grew. It seemed closer to ‘academic elitism’ than meritocracy. Some members fell from grace before even demonstrating their abilities. The large-scale appointment of former prosecutors also lacked public approval. It appeared distant from the fairness President Yoon had spoken about.

Is it too much to hope for a president who tries to understand people even when they present opposing views and can acknowledge better ideas if they arise? If the current People Power Party had viewed criticism not as ‘internal betrayal’ but as ‘freedom to criticize’ and ‘freedom of expression,’ it might look very different today.

In Michael Sandel’s book, The Tyranny of Merit, there is a passage that reads:

“History shows that outstanding academic credentials and practical wisdom or an instinctive desire to realize the common good do not necessarily align. One of the most representative examples of the failure of academic elitism can be found in David Halberstam’s classic work, The Best and the Brightest. This book recounts how John F. Kennedy assembled a cabinet of highly credentialed individuals. Yet despite their exceptional expertise, the United States plunged into the quagmire of the Vietnam War.”

Will we see President Yoon realize the ‘fairness’ he mentioned to his aides last June? There is still a chance to make amends.