Words That President-Elect Yoon Seok-yeol Must Keep in Mind

Beginner's Mind, People's Livelihood, and Diplomacy Must Be Engraved in the Heart
Never Forget That Power Grows the More It Is Shared

President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol is expressing his gratitude to supporters in front of the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Politics is a drama. Yet, there has never been a drama like this. The vote count process of the 20th presidential election was just like that. The outcome was decided by a margin of about 240,000 votes. It was a tense night that made both ruling and opposition parties hold their breath. We laughed, cried, were bewildered, and then cheered. Another chapter of history was made this way. It is the transition from the ‘Moon Jae-in era’ to the ‘Yoon Seok-yeol era.’

The pinnacle of presidential power is right after the election victory. That moment is the highest peak. Politically speaking, that is the case. Paradoxically, the magnitude of power diminishes from that point onward. How one perceives this fact influences how power is exercised. The greatest power is ‘invisible power.’ It is realized through the delegation of power based on trust. This is why the saying ‘power grows the more it is shared’ came about. The term ‘Blue House government’ should no longer be used.

This election was decided by a margin as thin as a single perilla leaf. It revealed two Koreas. This is an undeniable reality. Beyond regions and generations, even gender, it starkly exposed the current state of conflicts in our society. The new government faces many challenges as a result. Without mutual cooperation, there are few issues that can be properly resolved. President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol’s statement, "The competition is now over, and I believe we must all unite and work together for the people and the Republic of Korea. (My victory) is the triumph of the great people," should be seen in this context.

There are several words that President-elect Yoon should keep in mind. First is ‘choshim (初心),’ meaning ‘beginner’s mind’ or ‘original intention.’ Former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in lost their choshim. President Park advocated ‘economic democratization’ but discarded it like an old shoe after winning the election. President Moon promoted ‘unity and harmony,’ yet conflicts between factions were more severe than ever. Starting off this way eventually led to impeachment and regime change. President-elect Yoon must learn from history. It is necessary to soberly acknowledge the reality of being a president without legislative experience, a president from a minority opposition party, and a president elected by a margin of about 240,000 votes. He must not neglect efforts to appoint diverse figures outside the People Power Party’s circle to the government and to build a coalition with forces holding different opinions. We expect him to devote all efforts to realizing ‘cooperation’ not just in words but in practice.

The word ‘minsaeng (民生),’ meaning ‘people’s livelihood,’ should also be engraved in his heart. No matter how good the intentions and ideals are, if they do not fit reality, caution is needed in applying them. Water can both float a boat and overturn it. Public sentiment changes morning and evening. Public sentiment comes from the granary. The truth, from ancient times to the present, is that the country stabilizes when people’s livelihoods are secure. Living in a world where one’s back is warm and stomach is full is the long-standing wish of ordinary people. It cannot be dismissed. While placing the highest priority on people’s livelihood in policy is important, it is also a challenging task to maintain. The foundation is jobs.

‘Diplomacy’ is a keyword related to our survival. Historically, our fate has often been swept up in turmoil regardless of our will. From the fall of Baekje in the Three Kingdoms period, the Japanese invasions during the Joseon Dynasty, the Sino-Japanese War in modern times, to the Korean War in contemporary history, diplomacy has determined the survival of the nation. Positioned at the junction of continental and maritime powers, we are in a geopolitical location that requires wise diplomatic skills to promote national development. Especially now, amid the growing conflicts in the new Cold War structure between the four major powers surrounding us?U.S. and Japan versus China and Russia?the importance of diplomacy is greater than ever. We hope President-elect Yoon will build a better Republic of Korea based on the keywords ‘choshim,’ ‘minsaeng,’ and ‘diplomacy.’

Sojongseop, Political Editor kumkang21@

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.