Will the 청 National Petition Disappear? "Communication Channel" vs "Division Platform"

54 National Petitions in Two Days on the 17th and 18th
Transition Team: "May Change to Offline Format for Direct Public Engagement"
Public Opinion Divided on Retention or Abolition

[Asia Economy Reporters Jang Sehee, Oh Gyumin]‘Recount due to poor management of early voting’ ‘Opposition to relocating the 20th President’s office’ ‘Opposition to the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’.

By the morning of the 17th and 18th, 54 petitions including these topics were posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Since it was right after the presidential election, petitions related to the election and the transition committee issues dominated. A petition opposing the pardon of former President Lee Myung-bak gathered over 60,000 supporters in just one day, sparking heated debates within the political sphere.

The Blue House National Petition Board was created on August 17, 2017, when the Moon Jae-in administration marked its 100th day in office, aiming for the philosophy of ‘the government answers when the people ask.’ It created a public forum beyond the roles of the National Assembly, political parties, and the media, resolving social issues such as the Yoon Chang-ho case, the Nth Room case, child abuse, and strengthening safety obligations for school buses. On the other hand, it has also caused side effects by being used for one-sided claims and revelations without fact-checking, indiscriminate petitions, and as a tool for political and social conflict incitement.

Yoon: "Only follow the will of the people"... Offline communication expected to strengthen

The Presidential Transition Committee is expected to revise the petition board. A spokesperson for President-elect Yoon said, "Since it is a policy that reflects the previous administration’s national philosophy, it is highly likely to change its form," adding, "Since the president-elect said he would meet and listen directly to the people, it might be changed to an offline format."

Public opinion is divided. Mr. Lee, a man in his 30s working in delivery, said, "I haven’t used it directly, but I think it’s better to have it than not," adding, "People might use the board when they go through difficult times." Ms. Kang, a college student in her 20s living in Gireum-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, said, "It’s true that many cases involving the vulnerable have been brought to attention through petitions," but added, "If communication is done offline, it seems like it would take too much physical time." She also said, "I think it would be more burdensome to share personal stories offline."

On the other hand, Mr. Shin, in his 40s running a cafe in Songpa-gu, Seoul, said, "I’ve never used the National Petition Board because I’m busy making a living day by day," and added, "It seems to be filled only with political agitation and personal complaints, and I don’t feel much actual effectiveness." Mr. Kim, in his 50s working in Yeouido, Seoul, said, "As generational and political ideological conflicts deepen, the board seems to have fulfilled its role," adding, "It rather looks like politics that divide people are being activated."

Heo Minsook, a legislative researcher at the National Assembly, said, "It is a good system that reflects the majority opinion of democracy in a concise form," adding, "If a case is caused by the system rather than individual misfortune or circumstances, the Blue House has stepped in to take administrative measures and played a role in creating preventive measures. Rather than simply seeing opposing opinions as conflicts, we should be concerned about conflicts turning into violence and other forms."

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