1. National Vision and Goals for Politics and Administraive Realms of State Affairs
KOREA REPORT(2017, #1)
National Vision and Goals for Politics and Administraive Realms of State Affairs
1. The Moon Jae-in Administration’s National Vision and Goals for Politics and Administrative Realms of State Affairs
□ The Moon Administration’s national vision is ‘A Nation of the People, a Republic of Korea of Justice’
○ ‘A Nation of the People’ signifies that the Moon administration seeks to establish ‘The Constitutional Spirit of Sovereignty of the People’ as the guiding principle of the administration in its state affairs.
- The candlelight rallies in 2017, leading to the impeachment of former corrupt government, has reaffirmed that the state belongs to the people; the sovereignty of Republic of Korea belongs to the people.
- The vision of ‘A Nation of the People’ aims for building ‘a nation in which the people participates actively in the state affairs, a nation in which the peoples’ will serves as the basis of the government’; ‘a nation of all’ that defies the rule by the few
○ The Vision of ‘A Republic of Korea of Justice’ is the declaration that ‘Justice’ is the core value of the new administration; and that the government will reconfigure Korea upon the value of ‘Justice.’
- ‘Fairness’ and ‘Justice’ are the spirit of the times and also the core values necessitated in all the realms of politics, economy and society in Korea. ; ‘Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought’ (A Theory of Justice, Rawls)
- The vision of ‘A Republic of Korea of Justice’ seeks to newly build a state wherein principles and common sense prevail; equal opportunities given to all; fair procedures and rightous results are guaranteed; irrational privileges and foul plays are defied; and unfair discrimination and social gap are resolved.
□ Among the five policy goals for realizing the Moon administration’s national vision, ‘The Peoples’ Government’ has been set as the policy goal for politics and administration, in order to promote sovereignty of the people in all realms of state institutions and ordinary lives of the people.
○ The Moon administration seeks to get rid of the old ills of former government which ‘ruled over the people – a government ruled by the few ’corrupted’ individuals and instead bring democratic reforms to establish a government that serves the will of the people.
- All-out reform of the government to clean up the corruptions and abuses committed by the privatization of power by the former government.
- Extensive reforms for the government institutions including National Intelligence Service and Public Prosecutors Office, which sought to rule over the people, neglecting their own responsibilities in the interest of the government, even abusing the fundamental principles of democracy.
○ The Moon administration aims to establish democratic and competent government that administrates the state affairs through active communication with the people.
- Placing an end to the era of the so-called ‘Blue House President,’ who remained mostly out of reach from the people, and instead opening a new era of ‘Gwanghwamun President’ who communicates actively with the people.
- Breaking the past’s closed-room and unilateral decision-making process of the government, and replacing with new institutions and administrative environment wherein the people can freely participate in the state affairs.
□ The four agendas and fifteen policy tasks to realize ‘The Peoples’ Government’
○ The first agenda in politics and administration: Revive Korea as ‘Worthy of being called a Nation’ as it is supposed to be and realize ‘candlelight democracy of peoples’ sovereignty’ (four main tasks)
- Clean-up the abuses committed by the former administration - privatization of the government, corruption, undermining of democracy and socio-economic problems. And recover the values of public goods and publicness.
- Trace and sweep away all the accumulated evils and crimes, to throughly prevent corruption, to re-build foundation of democracy by enhancing freedom of expression and reinforcing independence and fairness of the press.
○ The 2nd agenda: ‘The Gwanghwamun President consolidating the nation through communication,’ who believes and acts out himself that active and transparent communication with the people is the rightful responsibility of any public officials (three tasks)
- Maximum guarantee of the peoples’ right for information and participations; Promote nation integration through reform of political institutions.
- Implement ‘Gwanghwamun President’ by relocating the presidential office and going public on major itinerary. Improve civil rights by reinforcing the autonomy of the commission on human rights, rooting-out of illegal investigation and strengthening protection of private information etc.
○ The 3rd agenda: ‘Transparent and Competent Government’ via the administration’s continuous determination and efforts (five tasks)
- Intelligent and innovative administration, open and offering friendly administrative needs to all.
- Establish policies for public institutions that reflect social values – fair personnel appointment and management, reinforming protection of citizens abroad, and enhanced treatment of national veterans. Implement reforms to improve the organizational structure of the government.
○ The 4th agenda: ‘Democratic Reform of Government Organizations’ to assure that the government authority only serves the will of the people (three tasks)
- Revival of the government institutions: ‘of the people and for the people’ - framework for fair country.
- Installation of prosecutor committee to investigate corruption of high rank officials in order to enhance the public image of prosecutors. Realize the principle of ‘checks and balances’ by adjusting the investigation rights between the prosecutors and the police and by reform in National Intelligence Service. Pursuit for human-rights oriented innovation of police system and establishment of independence and transparency of the Board of Audit and the National Tax Service.
□ ‘The Peoples’ Government’ is to re-build public virtues of Republic of Korea, necessitating ‘the wisdom of fox and the courage of lion.’
○ The Moon Administration is rapidly pushing reforms with great determination since its inauguration.
- Executing swift personnel reshuffling and reform of the Prosecutors Office and the National Intelligence Service(NIS), the administration investigates on the shadow cabinet’s monopoly on state affairs and on the black-list case in culture, and, especially, the possibility of illegal activities on the internet by the NIS under the Lee Myung-bak administration.
- The ruling party ‘The Democratic Party of Korea’ is pursuing the legislation including ‘Choisunsil act’ to clean up the abuses done by the former government. The people who were formerly oppressed by the previous government including journalists are joining the Moon administration’s efforts to address the problems of corruption in the private sectors.
- Upon forming peoples’ advisory government transition team and starting the so-called governmental innovation platform ‘Gwanghwamun 1st street,’ the Moon administration seeks to reinforced communication with the people through enhancement of the civil society.
- Such sincerity and will of the President to communicate with and consolidate the people by giving up privileges is getting strong support from the public(77% approval rate on the Gallop Korea survey on national administration, August 4). This reform process suggests higher possibility of successful reform of government towards building ‘the Peoples’ Government.‘
○ In order to truly build ‘a Nation of Peoples’ Sovereignty,’ elaborate plan and strategy, as well as strong determination of the government are indispensable.
- The goal of the ‘Peoples’ Government’ is a demanding task as it requires the rebuilding of democratic and public values which were destroyed overtime in the former administrations.
- Already noticed is counter-offensives by parts of politicians and the press who have benefitted from corruption and undemocratic privileges they acquired from the government. They will attempt to discourage the administration’s endeavors toward building the ‘Peoples’ Government’ and ‘the Republic of Korea of Justice,’ by mobilizing their advantages in capital and power over the press.
- Only ‘Good Will’ will not suffice in achieving such fundamental reform of the country. Keeping this in mind, the administration shall move forward with ‘the wisdom of fox and courage of lion’ as well as ‘strong determination’ for the remaining five years.