S Korean Politics Unsettled

Political Revenge

June weather in California is beautiful and pleasant. My wife and I decided to clean our bathroom today to get ready for the long hot summer days. We have been thinking about this cleaning since the beginning of this year. We no more have nimble bodies. Besides, I have been hooked to the development of the Korean political situation only to see the result I least hoped for. I am not a politician as you, my friends, know. I was an engineer. I was good at doing what I do best. One time, I saw an opportunity to serve my fatherland with my profession and expertise in putting up a communication satellite for the first time in Korea. I had established an enough credential in the company I worked with to lead this project. I had the full support from the company in money and technology. I got the best satellite ever built with the proven technology. As some of you may know, my campaign was not successful. My company decided to sell only technology and honesty at that time. Poor politicians worked for their cronies and did not pay attention to the benefits the nation would get by choosing the best proven product. I was treated as a street vendor. Going back to my bathroom, Mr. Moon would not help me to clean our bathroom. Mr. Hong would not help me either, even if he had succeeded his venture. I have nothing to do with particular politicians. But I was interested in seeing the direction with which such politicians are leading for a prosperous and peaceful Korea. We will find out very soon whether Mr. Moon is the right person. Can he put S Korea in the right place in good partnership of the free world, or in a place unrecognizable in the far eastern corner of the world? This is not a matter of private comfort of one generation but a human pride and dignity once lived in Korean peninsula as the fatherland.

Mr. Moon has raised a question as to whether additional units of SAAD missile system were installed following the legitimate authorization. If it were illegitimate, the US could have installed them furtively. This is a serious charge against his strongest ally. Raising such a question in public could be construed as a sign of severing the mutual trust. By keeping distance with the US, Mr. Moon might have attempted a cheap shot to have closer relationship with the Qing Dynasty. The Qing thought it is a good opportunity to bring S Korea to her side this time to make both North and South under her territory making a better position to negotiate with the US. So, Premier Xi even raised his voice of opposition of the THAAD in Korean peninsula. Mr. Moon, an inexperienced leader, thought his mumbling lip service can improve already cold relation with China. But China wants only real thing, the removal of SAAD, which is impossible to the US. Trump administration would not budge on such nonsense. The US and Korean alliance has been strong for the past 70 years. One president, though being a pro-North socialist, cannot give a dent on the relationship. Mr. Moon has a lot of homework to do before he meets with President Trump face to face. Mr. Moon has to remember there is the consequence on what he says or does in the world stage. He is no more a mere local instigator mingling with Kwanhwamoon riots. There is even the special news reporting that Mr. Moon has stopped the installation of the US SAAD. Should this be true, there could be a long negotiation ensuing.

Now Moon administration says that the SAAD question raised was not intended toward the US but toward domestic discussion only. His explanation is childish and laughable to mature adults. The US Defense secretary, Gen. Mattis responded, it is understandable after listening to the apology of the Korean Defense Minister Han. But his face looked puzzled. He did not seem to understand what Mr. Moon really want do with the SAAD. Only Koreans can understand including me. Mr. Moon does not want to make the nation less safe by weakening the US force in S Korea. Yet, He wants to consolidate his political power by purging his opponents from the government and influential positions. Mr. Moon is taking a political revenge against people he does not like. Daily TV news is full of suspicious accusations on the years old corruptions and wrong doing. For this reason, I would not watch Korean news for a while. People supporting him seem so righteous and are full of hatred toward those who do not agree with them 100%. This is dangerous for the future peace of the nation. The political revenge is no and no. People must learn to digest hatred into grace to stop repeated political revenge. Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says God. America is a great country, because there is no political revenge. Despite his tyranny and corruption in the name of political correctness, equal distribution, or religious freedom, Obama is not going to be punished for them. Mr. Obama is a student of the collective salvation at the cost of individual freedom. Luckily, he is not going to come back again, which is enough to Americans. Politicians are inherently corrupt. Good and honest people never want to become politicians. All we can expect from politicians is that they lead the nation in the right direction. Do you think Mr. Moon leads S Korea in the right direction? This is in my view a million dollar question everybody should ask. I do not think he does. Apparently, He works for poor and young people. But he is not a presidential material for all Koreans in the world stage.