[The Editors' Verdict]Is There Anyone Who Speaks Harsh Truths to the President?

Those in power are prone to the "Icarus risk." This refers to Icarus, who ignored his father's warning not to fly too high or too low and flew all the way to the sun, only to fall into the sea. This is not just a saying but a verified fact. Behavioral psychologists say that when people gain power, they become obsessed with the idea that no one can resist them and that they can do anything. Because they think of themselves as the masters of the world, their empathy diminishes and arrogance sprouts. The self-hypnosis that they are in their position because of some kind of "specialness" is also not unfamiliar.

Therefore, one element of successful rulers throughout history has been vigilance against arrogance. Symbolic examples include King Sejong appointing Hwang Hui, who helped Prince Yangnyeong, as prime minister, and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty appointing Wei Zheng, who argued that he should be removed. Former U.S. President Clinton appointing David Gergen, a Republican, as a presidential advisor is also in the same vein. It is very difficult for those in power to keep people who speak harsh truths close to them. While systems are important, it is ultimately people who design and operate them. Former President Kim Young-sam’s saying "Personnel is everything" and Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul’s emphasis on "talent first" may be for this reason.

It is worth wondering if President Yoon Suk-yeol currently has people around him who speak harsh truths. “The president likes to talk and talks a lot. He spends more time speaking than listening to others. But his stubbornness is like that of a bull. Sometimes he suddenly loses his temper.” These remarks were conveyed to me by people who were close to him during the last presidential election and, although they do not speak openly, are privately very concerned about the current situation. The president should reflect on why, among ordinary people, there is a saying that “except for Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, no one speaks frankly to the president.” This saying implies not only that “there is no one who speaks harsh truths” but also that “the president only listens to Mrs. Kim’s words.”

In this regard, President Yoon needs to pay attention to political “mediating centrality.” He should find and appoint figures with high mediating centrality who can serve as bridges connecting conservatives with centrists and the non-partisan. “Harsh truths” and “mediating centrality” are two sides of the same coin. This can increase tension within power and become a new beginning to break through stagnant approval ratings. However, given the current situation of a strong confrontation with the opposition party, the likelihood of such change happening soon seems low. Recently, the ruling and opposition parties have been in a state of “hostile symbiosis.” But especially in times like these, we should recall former French President Fran?ois Hollande’s words: “In a democracy where power is dispersed, change is generally slow. Therefore, power is compromise.”

Without change and continuing as is, it seems difficult for the administration to secure strong driving force. This is because of the uncertainty of the main forces, the ambiguity of policy directions, and, as seen in message responsiveness, a lack of skill in power management. Time is not on President Yoon’s side.

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