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I represent the nation

Posted January. 02, 2017 07:12,   

Updated January. 02, 2017 07:22

한국어

2017 will be the year of a revolutionary turmoil for Korea. It is inevitable. The Constitutional Court may uphold the impeachment motion or president Park may keep her word and resign in April. No matter what happen, there will be an early presidential election in the first half of this year, an unprecedented event in Korean constitutional history. The year 2017 marks the 30th anniversary of adopting so-called "87 system as a result of a democratic uprising in 1987. There is an increasing consensus that a direct election system that enables people to elect a 5-year term president has done its duty. Once the call for constitutional amendment begins to emerge as a task of our time, it is certain that the Korea will face a time of change and turbulence after the election with the launch of a new administration and constitutional reform agenda.

Then, what we need to prepare for the imminent turmoil so that the nation must not fail? The answer can be found in the Meiji Restoration, which is considered as the world’s most successful revolution without prejudice. In 1867, 150 years ago, the Tokugawa shogunate put his prerogatives at the Emperor’s disposal and resigned, ending the 700-year period of Bakufu. It was to restore the imperial rule to Japan. Young leaders in the Meiji Restoration took the lead to realize their dream of national prosperity and military power and sacrificed themselves by putting Noblesse Oblige (privilege entails to responsibility) into practice. A gradual reform embracing every corner of the society resulted in a successful modernization of Japan, instead of a single overturn.

The American Civil War took place in the similar period from 1861 to 1865 and ended with the victory of the Union. The Union continued to provide measures to restore the destroyed Confederate such as expanding popular votes and accomplished national unification as one nation in 1877. What about leaders in Korea? Can we find such vision, Noblesse Oblige, and self-sacrifice from them? Do they have the leadership and power of negotiation that is sufficient enough to achieve a great union based on a gradual reform?

The people of South Korea were greater than politicians. It was the candlelight vigil that made politicians change their mind. No one was taken to the police station even millions of people took to the street. They did not break any law and were filled with the ownership spirit. They silently claimed that they represent the Republic of Korea.

In 2017, we are standing at the cliff-edge, feeling a breeze of chilly wind. A history progresses as well. We have already experienced in every 20 years. We successfully turned crisis into opportunity for growth. After the April Revolution (Apr. 19, 1960) and the May 16 coup (1961), we overcame poverty and strengthened our economy after the 10.26 incident in 1979 by shifting the government-led economy into a market-based system. Also, we changed the corporate structure after the financial crisis in 1997. We are now facing many difficult situations such as incompetent politicians, poor foreign and security policy affected by North Korea and four surrounding nations, industries that are losing their momentum, and deeply polarized society. We must get over them with a keen civic consciousness. We all know that such issues cannot be resolved easily. However, we must overcome as we are the nation.