hankyoreh

Apr. 27. (by Ryu Woo-jong

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won has said he plans to resign over the sinking of the Sewol ferry. It certainly makes sense for him to acknowledge and apologize for the government’s responsibility for the failures in accident prevention, the early response and the problems that have plagued the recovery process. But that search and rescue operation is still ongoing. We don’t even know the fate of the more than 100 students who are still down there in the cold darkness of the sea. Under the circumstances, the Prime Minister’s sudden announcement of his plans to resign could be viewed as irresponsible.

There is no need to go further into the government’s incompetence, the way it has failed to rescue a single person trapped on a vessel right in front of their noses. But what the public has been asking for is not the immediate resignation of the Prime Minister, or any other members of the Cabinet. Not even the political opposition ever asked for him to step down - not because the government is free of any responsibility, but because the priority right now has to be responding to the accident. Since the Blue House has decided not to accept the resignation until after the recovery is finished, Chung needs to honor the public’s demand for 100% commitment to the search and rescue until the very last passenger’s fate is known.

Chung said he made the decision because he felt he “could not go on burdening the administration’s operations by remaining in my post.” In other words, he basically admitted that his decision to step down was intended to give President Park Geun-hye a way out of her crisis. It’s a truly astonishing show of loyalty, with a Prime Minister whose first thought is not for the recovery or consoling the public in its grief, but for making sure the burden is off the President’s shoulders. And with the press conference coordinated beforehand with the Blue House, the resignation seems to have gone ahead according to a predetermined script. It’s hard to shake the feeling that his decision was planned out by the Blue House as a way of blocking the slings and arrows of criticism headed Park’s way. But Chung’s announcement should not be allowed to serve as a bulletproof vest shielding Park from any calls to take responsibility. If this was indeed planned, then it’s a cheap political show that the public simply will not tolerate.

“I am less interested in passing out blame than I am in learning from and correcting these mistakes to make us safer. For ultimately, the buck stops with me. As President, I have a solemn responsibility to protect our nation and our people. And when the system fails, it is my responsibility.”

Those were the words of US President Barack Obama, addressing his country on Jan. 7, 2010, after a failed terrorist attack on an airplane the Christmas before. The contrast with Park’s response to the Sewol’s sinking could not be starker. The people of South Korea haven’t even heard the cliches about “acutely sensing my own responsibility” that Presidents have traditionally offered at times like this. There’s been no apology, no formalities about the “buck stopping here.” Instead, we’ve only gotten stern words of blame for government officials and the captain and crew being liken to “murderers”. In terms of leadership without responsibility, it’s all too reminiscent of the way National Intelligence Service chief Nam Jae-joon survived in his post by getting a second deputy director to fall on his sword.

The Sewol sinking has left the people of South Korea deeply hurt, and it’s going to take more than the Prime Minister’s proxy apology or proxy resignation to solve things. As the person designated in the Constitution as head of the executive and supreme commander, the President bears her own separate responsibility. If she continues shunning responsibility, the voices asking just what distinguishes her from the Sewol’s captain are only going to get louder.

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