By Kim Ji-soo
On Dec. 3, in the West Sea off Yeongheung Island, a 336-ton tanker and a 9.77-ton fishing boat collided. The fishing boat capsized, killing 15 of the 22 people aboard. Immediately after the incident, President Moon Jae-in said, regardless of what may have caused the accident, the state is ultimately responsible for the prevention and for the rescue. Soon afterward, an investigation determined that both the tanker and the fishing boat were responsible.
The President's well-meant words reassuringly conveyed the message that appropriate government response measures were going to be taken.
This message is pivotal for Koreans, as it's hard to deny that such incidents since the tragic 2014 ferry Sewol deeply unnerve Koreans. The 2014 sinking killed more than 300.
Having been elected on strong public sentiment that impeached former President Park Geun-hye for her administration's gravity-lacking response to the 2014 incident and other incapacities laid bare in the following days, the President demonstrated his statesmanship. He has done it repeatedly in the course of the past eight months since taking office in May, responding swiftly to crises, and taking charge and responsibility.
Moon has come forth on urgent social issues as well, saying that the state will shoulder more of the burden in fighting dementia amid a rapidly aging Korean society, and transforming temporary contract workers into regular ones.
His actions to date have given the Korean public the assurance that they can go about their lives more reliant on the stability of the government. Yet a new nagging question arises over the repeated sweeping declarations of state responsibility. Because translated administratively, the question is about what size government the Korean public wants in the days ahead.
Interestingly, following the President's comments on the Yeongheung Island fishing boat incident, various experts and thinkers asked how the state in the days ahead will live up to its accountability financially, legally, and morally.
Already, a bigger government budget has been allotted to create public jobs, and to provide slightly more welfare assistance to the poor and the elderly next year. Will our state coffers suffice? And if not, just how will they be replenished?
Also, for the state to assume such ultimate responsibility, it may mean strictly controlling the actions of individual citizens to prevent and lessen the fallout of unexpected disasters?
On a moral note, with the state ultimately responsible, just how much responsibility is afforded to the individual?
People are selfish, irrational beings who need a certain sense of freedom and autonomy; we enjoy this freedom and autonomy to determine our actions and chart our course in life.
The contemporary political history of Korea has been practically a tug-of-war between how much that "certain" freedom and autonomy should be, in relation to the powers of the state. Or inversely, because of this history, even well-intended words of reassurance and leadership from the president, invariably triggers questions and doubt. The tumultuous year 2017 has unfolded better than most of us would have expected in the first five months. There is enough trust and confidence abounding in Korea so as to start asking tough questions as to what we need to realistically do to deal with the challenges, domestic and international, that may come our way.
On Dec. 3, in the West Sea off Yeongheung Island, a 336-ton tanker and a 9.77-ton fishing boat collided. The fishing boat capsized, killing 15 of the 22 people aboard. Immediately after the incident, President Moon Jae-in said, regardless of what may have caused the accident, the state is ultimately responsible for the prevention and for the rescue. Soon afterward, an investigation determined that both the tanker and the fishing boat were responsible.
The President's well-meant words reassuringly conveyed the message that appropriate government response measures were going to be taken.
This message is pivotal for Koreans, as it's hard to deny that such incidents since the tragic 2014 ferry Sewol deeply unnerve Koreans. The 2014 sinking killed more than 300.
Having been elected on strong public sentiment that impeached former President Park Geun-hye for her administration's gravity-lacking response to the 2014 incident and other incapacities laid bare in the following days, the President demonstrated his statesmanship. He has done it repeatedly in the course of the past eight months since taking office in May, responding swiftly to crises, and taking charge and responsibility.
Moon has come forth on urgent social issues as well, saying that the state will shoulder more of the burden in fighting dementia amid a rapidly aging Korean society, and transforming temporary contract workers into regular ones.
His actions to date have given the Korean public the assurance that they can go about their lives more reliant on the stability of the government. Yet a new nagging question arises over the repeated sweeping declarations of state responsibility. Because translated administratively, the question is about what size government the Korean public wants in the days ahead.
Interestingly, following the President's comments on the Yeongheung Island fishing boat incident, various experts and thinkers asked how the state in the days ahead will live up to its accountability financially, legally, and morally.
Already, a bigger government budget has been allotted to create public jobs, and to provide slightly more welfare assistance to the poor and the elderly next year. Will our state coffers suffice? And if not, just how will they be replenished?
Also, for the state to assume such ultimate responsibility, it may mean strictly controlling the actions of individual citizens to prevent and lessen the fallout of unexpected disasters?
On a moral note, with the state ultimately responsible, just how much responsibility is afforded to the individual?
People are selfish, irrational beings who need a certain sense of freedom and autonomy; we enjoy this freedom and autonomy to determine our actions and chart our course in life.
The contemporary political history of Korea has been practically a tug-of-war between how much that "certain" freedom and autonomy should be, in relation to the powers of the state. Or inversely, because of this history, even well-intended words of reassurance and leadership from the president, invariably triggers questions and doubt. The tumultuous year 2017 has unfolded better than most of us would have expected in the first five months. There is enough trust and confidence abounding in Korea so as to start asking tough questions as to what we need to realistically do to deal with the challenges, domestic and international, that may come our way.
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