[K-Women Talk] After the Presidential Election, the Public Must Keep Their Eyes Even Wider Open

A Presidential Race Filled with Populist Promises
The Real Issue Lies in the Lack of National Vision
Citizens Must Take the Lead in Shaping the Country’s Direction

Beyond the waves of martial law and impeachment, the die will be cast. For some, this will bring a sense of new hope; for others, it will be met with indifference, regardless of who wins. The iconic symbol of the eternal free spirit, 'Zorba the Greek,' once spat dismissively and mocked passengers arguing about politics on a ship. "What pointless talk. Shameless, aren't you? What I mean is, whether it's a king, democracy, a national referendum, or a member of parliament, it's all the same in the end."

Will it all be "the same in the end," no matter who wins this presidential election? Such feelings arise because no candidate is presenting a true vision. Both ruling and opposition parties have abandoned national vision and strategy, instead offering only similar, populist pledges. It is confusing which direction they intend to lead the country.

A nation's vision is not simply a blueprint for the future. It is the collective imagination and energy of its people, and the core pillar that establishes the community's reason for existence. In countries with vision, citizens unite under a common goal when faced with challenges. In countries without vision, they drift aimlessly and may even collapse. The dissolution of the Soviet Union was due to the loss of the federation's vision. Before that, the Ottoman Empire also lost its imperial vision in the face of the immense wave of Western modernization. The decline of Argentina and Venezuela, where vision has been replaced by populism, serves as a very real warning.

Look closely: vision is the power to overcome present crises through imagination for the future. After building a communist state, China pursued reform and opening-up under the vision of a "prosperous China." When it became difficult to endure social and institutional contradictions, China put forth the "Chinese Dream" of national rejuvenation as a new vision. What about the United States? As the American Dream faded, the country rallied under "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) to consolidate its strength. Regardless of whether the paths of the United States and China are right or wrong, these examples clearly demonstrate the critical importance of a national vision.

Our proud nation, Korea, has come this far with a vision since liberation. President Syngman Rhee founded a free and democratic nation; President Park Chung-hee presented an industrialization vision of prosperity. Later, the vision of becoming an advanced nation supported our identity and direction, and has been the key to our success to this day. That vision gave us the strength to overcome countless challenges and generated vibrant energy. The crises we face today?such as the demographic cliff, regional extinction, declining science and technology standards, political and social distrust, extreme polarization, and the MZ generation's (Millennials + Generation Z) sense of detachment from Korea?are, upon closer examination, actually secondary crises. At the root lies the real crisis: the absence of a collective promise for the future, in other words, the lack of vision.

"Where are we headed?" "What is the purpose of our current sacrifices?" "What will the future look like?the one we build together and the one future generations will enjoy?" We urgently need a national vision that answers these questions honestly. No presidential candidate has provided a proper answer. This is why what happens after the election is even more important. Regardless of who is elected, the public must demand the establishment of a national vision. Only then can the country survive, and only then can our future generations thrive.

To create a vibrant national vision that inspires citizens to endure today's sacrifices, we must overcome ideological polarization and restore our wavering identity. On that foundation, national agendas and strategies must be established. The current presidential campaign pledges are like a house built on sand and a cart trying to pull a horse. Furthermore, after the election, it is crucial to prevent politicians from arbitrarily implementing populist pledges. We must keep our eyes wide open before it is too late.

Park Eunha, Former Ambassador to the United Kingdom