First year of Lee government marred by lack of public trust

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak took office a year ago after a
landslide election victory, promising stellar economic growth and a conservative
policy shift away from that of his two liberal predecessors.

But the CEO-turned president marks his first year in office on Feb. 25 with his
popularity halved to 30 percent. Supporters argue that Lee has not been in office
long enough to prove his ability, while opponents believe that he already has
shown his limits.
"It is not a problem that faces only the Lee administration," Lee Nae-young, a
political science professor at Seoul's Korea University, said in a telephone
interview. "There has always been a cycle of high anticipation and deep
disappointment in Korean politics and we are again seeing that cycle with this
administration, only deeper disappointment and much sooner."
The professor said President Lee is somewhat unlucky, because he can in no way
satisfy the high public expectations of economic recovery in the face of the
global economic turmoil.
Hans Schattle, a political science professor from Yonsei University, agreed.
"With this administration barely off the ground, the global economic crisis
accelerated -- a crisis not of Lee's making but one that continues to intensify
on his watch," Schattle said.
The two professors, however, noted the Lee government might have worsened the
situation by allowing itself to be disconnected from the public through a series
of policy failures and questionable personnel appointments.
The first and major test of the Lee government came less than two months after it
took office when it lifted a five-year import ban on U.S. beef. The unpopular
decision triggered massive street protests that continued almost daily for
months.
"The Lee government has often created the public perception that it will pursue
its own agenda even in outright defiance of public opinion. This was certainly
the case with the U.S. beef controversy," Schattle said in an e-mail interview.
"Clearly, the Lee administration did not anticipate or even comprehend the extent
that the public would feel 'sold out' by the government on that issue," he added.
Public anger again poured out earlier this year when police violently cracked
down on squatters in central Seoul, leaving six people, including a police
officer, dead in a fire that erupted during the pre-dawn raid.
Anti-government criticism intensified when prosecutors, ending weeks of
investigation, cleared police of any wrongdoing while indicting a dozen
protesters.
Opposition parties are holding President Lee and his government responsible for
the disaster, accusing them of having little regard for poor and underprivileged
people.
"I would not say the Lee government works only for the rich. Still, the
government has created the impression at times that large financial interests
matter more than the concerns of everyday citizens," Schattle said.
Many political analysts agree that the most urgent task being faced by the Lee
government is to restore the badly damaged public trust in it.
"Economic growth is an issue that can be resolved when external conditions
improve, but the belief that the economic policy is only for the rich can
certainly widen the social divide," the Korea University professor, Lee, said.
The professor said it may not be possible for the Lee administration to
"perfectly resolve" the many issues in its hands, such as the economic downturn
and widening economic polarization, before its term ends in four years.
"They must let the people know that the government and the president are giving
serious thought and effort not only to ensure economic growth, but also to
resolve the issue of economic polarization. Just letting people know that there
are such efforts (being made) could help restore public trust and restoring trust
can be a very good start," he said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)