Ex-PM Says Political System Is Broken

Former Prime Minister Goh Kun said, “The current political system is broken” and that “a crisis will arise from the breakdown of the system” at “The Future and the Economy” forum yesterday.

“Party-minded political engineering will only cultivate a crisis, not conquer it,” he said. “Only unified leadership will gather the nation’s energy in one place and enable the system to recover.”

Goh’s criticism is considered to be in line with his denial of Uri Party chairman Chung Dong-young’s request for solidarity in regional elections yesterday.

Regarding Chung’s remark regarding Goh’s service as the current administration’s first prime minister, Goh said, ““It seems like the administration lacks a mutual understanding with the people.”

At the inaugural meeting of the forum, held at the Bankers Club, Lee Se-jung, former chairman of the Korean Bar Association, was elected chairman. Former Korea Development Institute director Kim Jung-su was elected as policy development chairman, and Kim Jin-hyun, chief director of the World Peace Forum, was elected as advisory chairman. Kim Yong-jeong, former editor-in-chief of Dong-A Ilbo, Mun Guk-hyeon, Yuhan-Kimberly president, Shin Soo-yeon, president of the Korean Women Entrepreneurs Association, and Choi Yeol, Korea Green Foundation Representative, were all elected to executive posts.

The forum, which includes 152 sponsors from different fields, meets once a month to hold regular debates and seminars focusing on policy research development.

jin0619@donga.com