To avoid being bitten by a tiger called ‘the public’

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae has renewed its commitment to push forward the state affairs with strong momentum under the principle of "choice and concentration," while holding a workshop on the "future direction for Office of the Presidential Secretariat in the third year of the administration" that Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon presided on Sunday. The administration also pledged to strengthen efforts for communication with the public. According to an opinion poll conducted by a survey firm Realmeter, five out of 10 respondents said "not sufficient" regarding the personnel reshuffle by President Park Geun-hye announced on Friday. It reaffirms that the personnel reform that the president bears in mind is clearly different from what the public expect. Even ruling Saenuri Party members expressed disappointment at the president’s reshuffling, as Rep. Jo Hae-jin called for fundamental change in ways of managing state affairs by the ruling party, the administration and Cheong Wa Dae.

Former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil said in a recent media interview, “Politicians need to know that the public is a tiger. Citizens are like a savage beast that bites its keeper once the keeper fails to please it, no matter how good the keeper was.” President Park needs to think about the insight of former Prime Minister Kim, who is also her cousin’s husband. No matter how hard the president works for the public, if one thing goes awry out of 10, the public stick to the one thing tenaciously and approval ratings drop. The senior politician’s wisdom hits the bull’s eye of the current situation.

President Park Geun-hye couldn’t dismiss three close secretaries "who do not have any disclosed irregularity" and just changed only their functions and roles. The president also decided to retain her chief of staff "who doesn`t pursue any self-interest" until Kim finishes the remaining works. The president once said there was no time to be alone while struggling with reports until late at night and she might be disappointed by the public and media that do not understand her true intention. However, if the president leaves the factors unchecked, which block communication and hinder the state affairs, even after the "memogate scandal," the public’s disappointment will grow further.

Half-baked measures such as dragging on or changing only the organizational structure will lead to further drop in approval ratings, resulting in a situation where the public’s trust on the administration and the president cannot be restored. Rapid decrease in the support rating can end up with loss of momentum to carry out state affairs or accelerated lame duck.

Especially, replacement of her chief of staff is not a matter that can be postponed under the excuse of "Cheong Wa Dae overhaul is not completed yet." Unless the president wants Kim to follow the suit of former Prime Minister Jeong Hong-won, who remained in his office for eight months after he submitted resignation, it is right to replace the chief of staff at the earliest possible. Then the upcoming reorganization and reshuffling at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae must be assisted by new chief of staff. New people to be appointed in the Cabinet and Cheong Wa Dae must be carefully selected as those who can bring a new turn and fresh transformation that the public realize. The ferocious tiger would not bite its keeper only when the president shows her ways of communication is fundamentally changed.