[The Editors' Verdict] What Typhoon 'Hinnamnor' Implies for President Yoon

The 11th typhoon of the season, ‘Hinnamnor,’ is about to make landfall on the Korean Peninsula. The government expects ‘Hinnamnor’ to be more powerful than past typhoons Rusa and Maemi. This is because its maximum wind speed reaches 47 meters per second, and its strong wind radius extends up to 430 km. Heavy rain is already pouring nationwide as the entire country falls within its influence, and strong winds have begun to blow. President Yoon Suk-yeol held an emergency inspection meeting on the afternoon of the 4th and entered emergency standby on the 5th.

The government is making an all-out effort to respond to the typhoon. It is symbolic that the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) was elevated directly from Level 1 to Level 3. This is the first time in the past five years. The crisis alert level was also raised from ‘caution’ to ‘severe.’ There is no distinction between ruling and opposition parties when it comes to typhoon preparedness. The central government, local governments, private sector, and government agencies are all joining forces. Even with such united preparation, it is uncertain whether the damage can be effectively prevented. This is because, although predictions are possible, the crisis has not yet fully arrived.

‘Hinnamnor’ carries implications for President Yoon. What does ‘Hinnamnor’ mean to him? Two aspects are noteworthy. One is the ‘economic crisis.’ The two pillars that have supported the Korean economy so far?semiconductors and China?are being severely shaken. The semiconductor economy is under threat, and the trade surplus with China is a thing of the past. It is also difficult to expect a relative advantage in trade due to the rising exchange rate. Meanwhile, the global economy is sinking into a recession due to the US-China trade conflict and the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Experts warn that the Korean economy will face its most difficult phase in the first half of next year. There is a possibility of an economic crisis on the scale of Hinnamnor.

The other is the ‘leadership crisis’ ignited within the ruling party. Since President Yoon took office, the ruling party has continuously fragmented. There is no cooperation with the opposition party, nor even unity within the ruling party itself. The discord between the president and the ruling party leader has become apparent. The ruling party is divided not into pro-Yoon (pro Yoon Suk-yeol) and anti-Yoon factions, but into ‘Yoon core associates (Yoonhaekgwan)’ and ‘others.’ Then, conflicts among the ‘Yoon core associates’ have also frequently surfaced. This ongoing fragmentation has reduced the ruling base and affected approval ratings. Just as nature dictates, if the roots are not strong, the tree easily sways in the wind. The ‘leadership crisis’ is connected to a crisis of trust in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

The unified stance in responding to Typhoon ‘Hinnamnor’ is precisely the attitude a ruler should adopt. If the president truly cares about the people’s livelihood, thorough preparation for the crisis must be made in advance. To do so, hearts must be united. Scattered and divided as they are now, nothing can be accomplished. The realm of will and the realm of execution are different. Moreover, the precious early days of the administration are passing by. The president cannot do everything alone. Politics may seem easy at first glance, but in reality, it is a comprehensive art that requires highly specialized experience and skills. Help from experts is necessary.

One of the lessons ‘Hinnamnor’ teaches is that cooperation from not only the ruling party but also the opposition party is essential in state governance. In the current situation where the opposition holds the majority of seats, cooperation is like a magic wand that makes the impossible possible. Even if the ruling party wants to pass a single bill, it is difficult without the opposition’s cooperation. The confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, symbolized by the summons of Lee Jae-myung and the indictment of Yoon Suk-yeol ahead of Chuseok, appears stronger than the typhoon. If such conflicts continue throughout the regular session, the national audit, and budget review, there is little hope for the National Assembly. The ruling party should quickly resolve internal strife and regain focus before ‘Hinnamnor’ strikes, laying the foundation for cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties.

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