편집자 주     본지에서는 전세계 외국인 독자들을 대상으로 한국의 역사와 문화를 정확하게 소개하기 위해 김정기 변호사의 칼럼을 영문판으로 연재를 시작합니다.

한국의 역사와 문화에 관심있는 전 세계인들에게 도움이 되길 바랍니다.

한국어 독자들은 한국어로 번역된 화면이 보이므로 반드시 사이트 상단에서 원문보기로 설정하셔야 영문판으로 보실수 있습니다.
 

 

 

☆김정기 총장 주요 약력☆
 
● 학력
- 뉴욕주립대학교(StonyBrook) 정치학과 수석졸업
- 마케트대학교(Marquette) 로스쿨 법학박사
- 하버드대학교(Harvard) 케네디스쿨 최고위과정
- 베이징대학교(Peking) 북한학 연구학자

 
● 경력
- 제8대 주상하이 대한민국 총영사(13등급 대사)
- 2010 상하이엑스포 대한민국관 정부대표
- 아시아태평양지방정부네트워크(CityNet) 사무국 대표
- 세계스마트시티기구(WeGO) 사무국 사무총장
- 밀워키지방법원 재판연구원 
- 법무법인 대륙아주 중국 총괄 미국변호사
- 난징대학교 국제경제연구소 객좌교수
- 베이징대학교 동방학연구원 연구교수
- 국민대학교 정치대학원 특임교수
- 동국대학교 경영전문대학원 석좌교수
- 숭실사이버대학교 초대 총장

 
● 저서
- 대학생을 위한 거로영어연구[전10권](거로출판사)
- 나는 1%의 가능성에 도전한다(조선일보사)
- 한국형 협상의 법칙(청년정신사)
- 대한민국과 세계 이야기(도서출판 책미듬)

(NewsKorea=Seoul) Digital News Team = Korea Story 37 - <Politics and Election 1  by Atty Jeong-kee  Kim>

● The Pathetic Portrait of Korea Without Genuine Politicians

<There is no leadership that presents an exemplary human image.>

Without money and connections, there is no dream or hope, and without being a conglomerate employee or a government official, it is impossible to lead a prosperous life, causing young people to want to escape from "Hell Korea." The current state of Korean society feels precarious. As a member of the older generation, I feel an immense sense of responsibility.

I myself have often felt self-destructive upon reflecting on my portrait as a Korean. Perhaps it is due to living as a 'slave' within the contradictions of the dualistic standard that has dominated Korean society. Additionally, it might also be because of the lack of generous love after coming from a difficult family background as with most of my contemporaries.

I have yet to see a genuinely exemplary leader among Korea's ruling elites (Power Elite) who practices clear distinctions between public and private affairs and possesses a heart of benevolence and patriotism. Politicians are solely concerned with their own survival amidst short-lived and unproductive power. Seonbi(Scholarly) politics, the ruling spirit of Joseon, has disappeared, and only philistine Ajeon(subservient) politics prevails. Business tycoons, forgetting the privileges granted to them during the development era, do not fulfill their social responsibilities. They create their own little empires, maximizing only basic animalistic needs like 'food, clothing, and shelter' rather than pursuing any higher values.

The group of expert public figures called the ruling elite training center just below is equally pathetic.

In the case of the United States, a group of expert public figures dig one well for their entire lives. Federal government employees consider it an honor to retire at retirement age as servants of the people. Judges are respected as priests of a country governed by the rule of law and work without retirement age, and prosecutors exercise only the right to indict and maintain prosecution, so they rarely attract attention. Professors consider teaching and research to be their calling and fulfill their calling as intellectuals. Journalists take great pride in working only in their field and work energetically even into old age. 

What about Korea? Central government officials are trapped in a sense of elitism from passing public service exam for high ranking  officials and create a 'our league' mentality, indulging in mutual conveniences and privileges. They have forgotten the spirit of self-sacrifice as public servants and are only interested in maintaining their 'superior authority' by creating unnecessary regulations. Judges and prosecutors, who should practice justice, stand at the center of injustice instead. Some judges issue politically biased rulings, and some prosecutors have become powerful, causing ruin in Korea. Upon retirement, they all engage in outdated and severe crimes equivalent to 'post-retirement bribes' at prestigious  law firms. Professors, who should focus solely on teaching and research, are instead busy making money from government or corporate projects or trying to join high positions by aligning with presidential campaigns. Journalists, who should act as advocates for the weak, have long deteriorated into irresponsibility and become societal hazards, with any significant reforms to protect the integrity of journalism seeming distant.

As a result, the common feature of Korea's expert public figures is their simultaneous focus on public duties and private interests, ultimately seeking power by dabbling in politics. They not only enjoy their privileges but also extend their wealth and status into extra innings. There is a lack of basic decency and etiquette. It is impossible to determine whether they are geniuses or the public is foolish.

It is truly chaos. In such a situation, the happiness index of people living in a developed Korea can only be low. Even with extensive education, there is no mental relaxation; even with hard work, there is no economic abundance; and despite diverse activities, only a sense of social emptiness prevails. This is the dismal state of Korea today.

So, what should be done? The ruling elite must be reborn. First, they must be honest in all things. This will enable them to practice 'walking the talk,' create a transparent society, and ultimately build a state governed by the rule of law. Second, they must have love for humanity. This will allow them to understand sharing and generosity, create a tolerant society, and ultimately build a welfare state overflowing with happiness.

<The people must step forward and raise genuine politicians>

Who are politicians in Korea? In a word, they are 'beggar gangs.' Economically impoverished, socially impoverished, and historically impoverished. Due to high-cost structures, they always struggle financially, and instead of earning the respect of the people, they receive no respect and are harshly criticized, making it difficult to maintain their positions. No country in the world treats its ruling elites (Power Elite) this way. When leaders are pushed into such a situation, the cost is ultimately borne by the people. This is the backward vicious cycle that Korean politics suffers from. One reason for this deteriorating situation is the 'inferiority-based superiority complex' of the backward Korean media. The reasons are left to individual imagination.

The people need to become wiser as well. This is fundamentally the responsibility of all citizens. Blaming politicians alone is not enough. The people must liberate politicians from the legal gray areas that make them potential lawbreakers. It is beneficial for maintaining the health of the citizenry to create many dignified and righteous 'heroes among us.' While it is correct to think that politicians, as leaders, are no different from oneself due to Korea’s unique 'mechanical egalitarianism,' it is also important to recognize and respect the differences that come with leadership. Only then will Korea, as a grand community, maintain order instead of disorder and achieve peace rather than chaos. The lack of truly trustworthy political leaders is a misfortune for both the people and the nation.

Chinese dynasties, from the Han to the Ming and Qing, share a common trait among their founding heroes. They were all 'beggar leaders.' The historical Chinese dynasties had no continuity in the ruling class. This is because it was easiest to exterminate the previous ruling class and monopolize their privileges due to severe hunger. By the end of each dynasty, they would become gluttonous and engage in hedonistic politics, leading to their decline.

Korean history, unlike China, maintained the continuity of the ruling class even after the collapse of dynasties, thus preserving a basic sense of dignity. Nowadays, in Korean politics, if luck prevails, even a 'beggar leader' can become president. As a result, it is not dignity but rather outrageous breaking of norms that prevails. This mirrors the period when a new dynasty was emerging in China. Roh Moo-hyun, with his 'great' spirit of sacrifice, resurrected those who had lived as beggars for life. During Moon Jae-in's era, a new ruling class composed of former beggars planned a 20-year-long strategy to maintain their wealth and status. Had they succeeded, it would have led to a perpetuation of 'leftist movement dictatorship,' creating a modern dynasty in the guise of a republic. Fortunately, President Yoon Suk-yeol shattered their dreams.

 I repeat: In the democratic republic of Korea, are there no citizens? Why do we not see awakened and enlightened citizens? To uphold the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution as republic citizens, shouldn’t we create an excellent leader cultivation system? Thus, we need to produce politicians who focus on the future rather than dwelling on the past and engage in productive creative endeavors rather than destructive conflicts.
 

☆ Author:  Atty Jeong-kee Kim ☆

● Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, State University of New York at Stony Brook
-  Doctor of Jurisprudence, Marquette University Law School
- Senior Executive Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Research Scholar in North Korean Studies, Peking University

● Experience
- Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai
- Commissioner General for the Korean Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai Expo
- CEO, Asia-Pacific Local Government Network for Economic and Social Development (CityNet)
- Secretary General, World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization(WeGO)
- Law Clerk, Milwaukee Circuit Court, USA
- Senior Attorney-at-Law, Dr & Aju LLC
- Distinguished Visiting Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Nanjing University
- Research Professor, Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University
- Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University
- Chair Professor, Graduate School of Business, Dongguk University
- First President of Soongsil Cyber University

● Publications
- Georo English Studies Series for College Students [10 volumes] (Georo Publishing)
- I Challenge the Possibility of One Percent (Chosun Ilbo)
- The Art of Negotiation (Cheongnyonneongsin Publishing)
- Korea and the World (Chekmidum Publishing)