Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Summer Wine]

I had a discussion with my co-teacher about what effect Ms Park would have. It was felt that as she is her fathers daughter and he was not very open to free thought that she may try to follow in Daddy's footsteps.

It seems she had a role in his powertrip and it was wondered what she would bring to the table as President if she won.

What do you think would happen? Do you think that she would try to reverse the previous twenty years of change and force a similar attitude as her father did? Do you think that the younger generation would not accept a reversal of policies and attitudes and would create turmoil?

If the worst case scenario occured, do you think the US would accept an authoritarian government in South Korea? How long would you stay if South Korea reverted back to the good old days of President Park?

[faster]

Are you talking about Park Geun-hye (aka Korea's George W. Bush)?

[Octavius Hite]

I don't think her election would change the democratic situation here. Despite my opinion on other things Korean, democracy seems safe. I think she would take a more belligerent attitude toward the North and be more pro-business, anti-union but it seems unlikely she could undo 20 years of democracy.

Her candidacy and popularity is solely based on the fact that Koreans (particularly the older ones) long for the days of 10% growth and can't figure out why it is only 5%. They blame unions and kids and communists and want the glory days of the "Miracle" back. However they fail to realize the reality (as most conservatives everywhere do) that the miracle was built on a totally non-existent economic base (no where to go after the war but up, up, up) and zero free trade. All the while they got exclusive access to the US market (in a bid to fight the Reds) and the Chaebols were running unchecked.

SO in closing, even if she does win, those who supported her for the above reason will be sorely let down because Korea is not capable of 7-10% growth any more. Much like the left was disheartened by Roh and his inability to unify the peninsula, the Right will be disheartened by Park's inability to bring back the heady days of torture, "dissaperances" and 10% growth.

[cbclark4]

A retrospective look shows the elder Park as an authoritarian, yet in terms of financial corruption by and far the least of any administration this country has seen.

An honest brute.

cbc

[Summer Wine]

Very interesting analysis Octavious. I do agree with you that I can't see the democracy unraveling.

CBC - you make an interesting point, though I would accept a little corruption in exchange for a dictatorship. Also I guess its really just the majority who are honest as the few who control power are corrupt anyway. Its just such large scalle that it appears honest.

[Octavius Hite]

I wasn't implying that the Chaebols were corrupt, just that their "miraculous success" wasn't based on ingenuity as much as it was on a protected market, heavy financing from the government, state monopolies, and a fixed Won (amongst other things). It was those things that led to the 1997 crisis.

[cbclark4]

[Summer Wine]

Yes it would be good to see real honesty practiced. But generally it is fear that keeps people truly honest.

Fear of disclosure, punishment, etc.

Though you and Octavious have both made some very valid points. The discussion came about because of the impact of a Mrs Park win and I think for Koreans of the mid 40 to late 40 range, I really don't think they would ever accept a return to Dictatorship era.

Though young koreans don't seem to understand how negative he was and maybe would vote for Ms Park because of ignorance and older ones for the reasons O. Hite made.

I can't say I support her as I feel she is running more on name recognition and less on what she could do to benefit the country. I figure that seeming I live here now, what happens in domestic politics is of interest to me. Though I guess most teachers would just leave if it went bad.

[jinju]

Im hoping to a Lee victory. park has no experience running anything. Running a political party simply doesnt cut it. Korea needs a business oriented president to get this economy moving not somebody like Park whose only asset is her name.

[Octavius Hite]

Lee's a Jesus nut, he thinks Christ told him to build Cheonnggye Stream. Thats too much craziness for me, add to that his stupid, illconcieved, wasteful, and unworkable canal idea and I don't think he should win.


That said, there is no one i have yet seen that deserves to win.

[Hollywoodaction]

[mindmetoo]

All the monuments to her daddy previous pharaohs removed will be put back up.