[Policy Pulse] The Faster and More Accurate Bad News Is, the Better

Lessons from the "Bad News First" Principle
Sometimes Honesty Is the Path to Trust and Cooperation

When families gather after a long time, such as during Chuseok, and then part ways, people often exchange wishes that only good news will be shared in the future. The biblical phrase, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news," reflects this sentiment. However, in life, there are times when we must hear certain news before the good news. In the first installment of the film "The Godfather," Tom Hagen, the legal advisor to mafia boss Corleone, says, "Corleone is a man who wants to hear bad news immediately." He understood that the more uncomfortable the truth, the sooner one learns it, the better one can prepare a response.

Employees who report often try to soften the blow by delivering good news first, while supervisors prefer to hear the bad news up front. This is because unprepared optimism is of no help. During the Tang Dynasty in China, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin kept Wei Zheng, who was never afraid to speak frankly, by his side and achieved the era of Zhenguan's rule. He said, "A mirror reflects my face, but Wei Zheng is a mirror that reflects my heart." The courage to listen to uncomfortable truths was the beginning of excellent governance. President Lee Jaemyung's announcement that he will appoint a special inspector can be interpreted in the same context. If a leader establishes a system that allows them to willingly hear even unfavorable information, it resembles the leadership of Emperor Taizong, who kept Wei Zheng close.

As a lawyer, I have often realized how important the "Bad News First" principle is. During an overseas lawsuit, when a court ruling was delayed, I received unfavorable information that we would lose at the first trial. Although everything was uncertain, I decided to immediately inform the other party. I was worried that the contract might be terminated, but I believed that only by standing on the truth could we find the next step.

However, the buyer was not surprised. Instead, confirming the accuracy of our information, they said, "Even if you lose, the contract will still be fulfilled." I felt as if I had witnessed a miracle. The reality that the other party responded with honesty and sincerity to our willingness to share the truth without hiding unfavorable information felt almost unreal. That was when I learned that trust actually deepens when you do not conceal unfavorable information. The truth may be uncomfortable, but it strengthens relationships.

People generally prefer to share only what is pleasant to hear. Behind this lies the fear that telling the truth may bring disadvantages. Solzhenitsyn defined communism as "a system built on lies" and said that the root of lies is fear. When fear covers the truth, both society and individuals become sick. That is why I always prioritize facts in my work. The more unfavorable the facts seem, the sooner they should be revealed. Often, facts that initially seemed disadvantageous later turn out to be a piece of a larger, more favorable truth when considered together with other facts. That is why I always tell my clients, "Please let me know the bad news first, not just the good news."

The "Bad News First" principle is not just a reporting method. It is an expression of the will to face the truth beyond fear, and ultimately, it leads back to the old saying, "The truth will set you free."

Attorney Park Suman