hankyoreh

third from the left

The two of them were like a pair of wings. When they joined together, Che Guevar’s famous words, “Be realistic. Ask the impossible” became South Korea’s reality. While Roh Moo-hyun was on the side presenting ideas that seemed like “impossible dreams,” Kim Dae-jung was the realist adept at developing strategies for making things realizable. At times, the idealist was criticized as incompetent, while the realist was criticized for not shying away from illicit alliances. These two men, one with a fiery heart and the other with a cool head, have now left us.

Many have been concerned about the overall ebb in forces for democracy and reform since the passing of these two men. “The 1987 wave has spent its energy, and this is not something that can be resolved by one man, President Lee Myung-bak, adjusting his thinking,” says Chung Dae-hwa, professor of Sangji University. Kim Ho-ki, professor of Yonsei University says, “Reform groups stand alone in addressing the main task of democracy.”

During the past few years, the Grand National Party has laid waste to local governments and assemblies in the 2006 local elections. Analysts see the failure of Kim Sang-kon, the superintendent of education in Gyeonggi Province who was elected with the support of progressives, to secure support for a free meal program from the GNP-controlled provincial assembly as a prime example of this. In addition, the Lee administration has cut funding to civic groups, the mainstay of grassroots democracy, and has caused several organizations to wither away. Moreover, the “New Town wind” that blew in with last year’s general elections was fierce enough that the main opposition party was unable to ensure enough seats to block Constitutional amendments. “There are concerns that if things keep up like this, we will regress in many respects back to the way things were before the ‘three Kims era,’” says MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society President Baek Seung-heon.

In some quarters of the Democratic Party (DP), cautious optimism is being voiced regarding next year’s local elections. “Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Dae-jung left behind a large legacy with a ‘practiced people,’” said a DP lawmaker from the 386 generation. “Thanks to them, the people have become certain about what the Lee administration is really doing and how precious democracy is,” the lawmaker added. The DP is looking for a confirmation of this legacy in the form of votes in both the October by-elections and next year’s local elections.

“The Democratic Party is expecting a source of energy to emerge from the legacy of the two presidents and the Grand National Party may be thinking that the disappearance of the ‘enemy commander’ may be beneficial to them, however, both of these sides are neglecting the ‘paradox of loss,’” says Yonsei University Professor Park Myung-lim. By “paradox of loss,” Park is referring to a phenomenon where the disappearance of a leader from either side, conservative or progressive, can lead to a crisis for both parties.

“Leaders function as buffers, offsetting conflict and crisis,” Park explained. “The Korean War broke out the year after Kim Koo died. The April 19 protests followed the disappearance of Cho Bong-am, an alternative figure within the institutional realm. The December 12 incident and the massacre in Gwangju happened after former President Park Chung-hee was assassinated. He suggests these serve as precedents for what could happen if the public turns to “street politics,” and represents a caution for democracy if reform forces fail to overcome their current leadership crisis and form a center. He says the major oppositional party will be unable to check the power of the ruling party. This view maintains that the public’s energy might explode in unpredictable ways if driven further into a corner and trust in institutional leadership is lost.

Analysts say whether democracy and reform forces can make sense of the deaths of the two former presidents to seed their popular support base remains a significant question. “Fortunately, the deaths of these two men have led the public to reflect on questions like, ‘How should politics be conducted?’ and ‘How should a human being live?’” said Seo Jung-seok, professor of Sungkyungkwan University.

“No matter how much democracy may regress, there is no turning back the great wave of history carried forward by Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun,” Seo added.

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