hankyoreh

Closely following efforts to turn Rhee Syngman into the “father of the country,” we are now seeing overt attempts to make a hero of Park Chung-hee. One was chased out by the people of South Korea, and the other saw to the violent shooting deaths of his coup d’etat comrades. It is frightening indeed to consider the reason for the attempt to make heroes of the two of them. Perhaps reactionaries and media clans are laying the groundwork for a continuation of the conservative regime ahead of next year’s general and presidential elections.

The reason Park’s military coup d’etat was remembered just by the three numbers “5/16” was because of pangs of conscience for having crushed the April 19 Revolution. But as we mark fifty years since the coup, May 16 and Park Chung-hee are being stealthily floated as revolutionary names. Under this formulation, April 19 becomes the coup, Rhee the scapegoat, and the democratization movement that stood up against the post-coup dictatorship turns into a band of rebels. The daughter of the Yusin government is being presented as the ruling party’s only alternative. Is there any place for qualms now?

As Park’s top achievements, these proponents are citing economic development and the Saemaul Movement. Some are even saying that suppression of democracy and the developmental dictatorship were inevitable by-products of the effort to achieve economic growth on this basis.

It is certainly novel to hear the argument that the defeated nations of Germany, Austria, Japan, and Italy were able to develop economically because of post-war dictatorships. Developing countries like Brazil and India achieved economic growth because of democratic leadership. Even just in terms of the growth rate, the level averaged 9 percent over a span of Park’s regime eighteen years, compared to the average 10 percent growth achieved by China after implementing reforms and openness. Still, no one is going to argue that the Chinese system is better.

The details of the growth are also problematic. The rate of inflation averaged double digits at the time, while real interest rates were at the minus level and money flocked into real estate. Under these circumstances, things like the reinforcement of a low wage structure, the dismantling of farming communities, and government-led finance were unavoidable in the attempt to support export industries. Rather than having any special leadership skills, Park found it impossible to avoid oppression and tyranny just to handle the problems he had created himself.

Anyone interested in knowing the nature of the Park Chung-hee regime does not need to look through books. They can simply examine the current situation under the Lee Myung-bak administration. High prices and low wages, state construction projects and real estate speculation, policies centering on large corporations and the rich, and an anti-human rights police state - all of it is playing itself out once again. While it cannot be said for certain that this is a direct result, President Lee is already the target of political sniping from his colleagues.

To summon up the specter of May 16 in spite of this is to argue that the country can go to the dogs so long as one’s own interests are protected. We hope there will be no more misleading of the country and its people.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]