[K-Women Talk] A New Vision and Golden Time for the Nation's Future

National Crisis in Security, Economy, Society, and Population
Foreign Policy Trapped in Domestic Political Strife
Uniting Through Politics of Dialogue and Compromise

Eunha Park, Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom

The general election has ended. The results may be what each person desired or the opposite. We cannot simply rejoice or be utterly disappointed and frustrated. We are faced with an urgent situation where everyone must unite to overcome the national crisis ahead.

Regardless of party lines, the people hope that all elected officials will clearly recognize how dire the crisis our country faces is and work to overcome it. The urgent situation spans all areas including security, economy, society, and population, and the golden time to resolve it is now. The next 2 to 3 years, which will determine the future, depend on the politicians elected this time.

Let us highlight just a few of the grave crises that will determine the nation's fate if not addressed urgently. First is the lack of a vision for the future. After liberation, our country's vision was survival and living well, but now we need a new vision that fits our grown stature, yet our perspective has not yet broken free from old frameworks. Without vision and a compass, we are bound to lose direction and drift aimlessly.

Second is setting a diplomatic direction amid rapid changes in the international order. Tensions and confrontations between the U.S. and China, North Korea's declaration of two states and changes in its strategy toward the South, intensified conflicts between the West and Russia along with Russia-North Korea closeness, and Japan's official move toward becoming a normal state?all these changes in the international order demand the establishment of foreign policy at the national level. If foreign policy remains politicized domestically, trapped in factional logic, the very survival of the nation will be threatened.

Third, we cannot overlook the steep population cliff problem. A low birthrate society is difficult to reverse. Therefore, the focus should be on preparing economic and social policies suited to a low birthrate society, but the ultra-low birthrate phenomenon threatening national sustainability must be overcome by mobilizing all possible means. In addition, discovering and supporting economic growth engines to lead the era of artificial intelligence (AI) is also an urgent task. It is worrisome how much those we elected feel and are prepared for these grave times.

When asked ChatGPT to list the virtues of politicians, it provided six: △ dedication to the public good △ truthfulness and honesty △ devotion and sacrifice △ conscience and responsibility △ ability to dialogue and negotiate △ leadership and insight. These are well-known virtues, but the reality is that we cannot expect all these virtues from politicians. It is especially sad that demanding politicians to speak truthfully and be honest is unrealistic.

Nonetheless, at minimum, the public demands that politicians think of the public good and exercise dialogue and negotiation skills. Let us recall the words of 19th-century American political reformer James Clark: “Politicians think only of the next election, statesmen think of the next generation.” What we all hope and expect are statesmen, not mere politicians. Regardless of the background under which they were elected, I want to appeal that from now on they become statesmen, not mere politicians. As citizens who want to hold hope, we demand at least that they have conscience, responsibility, and consideration for the public good.

Politics is a mission for a greater vision, but at the same time, Plato taught thousands of years ago that politics is always a choice between the best and the worst. Therefore, dialogue and negotiation are the core skills of politics. The people are fed up with factional politics that cling to partisan logic and shout that only their beliefs and thoughts are right. We want to live in a country full of hope where choices are made in better directions for the nation through dialogue, negotiation, and compromise, escaping from arrogance and the tyranny of the majority. The state of our country will change depending on what kind of politics we practice.

Park Eun-ha, Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom