EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on May 1)

Just Another Poll
When Will Elections Be About Policies and Not Politics?

Another round of by-elections came and went, producing winners and losers,
followed by partisan analyses of their impact on the future political landscape.

Despite the reportedly highest voter turnout for by-elections in eight years or
so, however, it's doubtful how many Koreans, even including many within the five
precincts that elected new lawmakers, cared about the entire process. As always,
Thursday's by-elections were just another noisy event of the politicians
themselves and few else.
It's not hard to sum up the by-elections' outcome; crushing defeat for the
governing party ??? all but a tradition since the previous administration,
face-saving for the main opposition party, the debut of a new party at the
National Assembly and a strong showing of independents.
But none of these results have meaning beyond individual politicians ??? and
their parties at most. Instead, most people might have thought the polls were
delaying the urgent parliamentary discussion of the economic stimulus budget and
other important legislation.
Admittedly, filling five vacant parliamentary seats could little affect the
overall national administration or even the parties' internal power structure in
the fist place. So the opposition's claims it was the mid-term judgment of the
Lee Myung-bak administration is somewhat exaggerated and self-serving.
Nonetheless, Cheong Wa Dae's belittling of the poll's significance sounds rather
brazenfaced and irresponsible. In particular, the ruling party's humiliating
defeat in Bupyeong was noteworthy not because it was situated in the capital
area, the so-called political bellwether region, but also because the governing
party's promises to rescue the troubled GM-Daewoo automaker failed to win the
hearts of voters.
By rejecting the populist campaign promise, Bupyeong's voters showed they're a
grade above the politicians, which itself can be good news for the development of
Korean politics. For President Lee and the governing camp, however, this and
their defeats in four other electoral districts should be a loud wake-up call and
a reminder that their various policies in the first year have gone nowhere, at
least as far as ordinary voters are concerned.
It also should serve as an opportunity for the Lee administration to check up on
the public's views on major future programs it's pushing, such as four-river
restoration projects, greater economic liberalization at home and abroad and
Seoul's policy vis-a-vis Pyongyang, with the mindset of the proverbial ``a stitch
in time saves nine."
The rivaling parties are already gearing up for more by- and re-elections in
October and local elections next year in a country where the political sun rises
and sets with all kinds of polls ??? general and special, national and local. Or
they may not have to wait even until then, if one or two winners of the latest
polls turn out to have violated election laws, as has so often been the case,
keeping related politicians busy enough.
As for serious debate on major issues, they can only leave it to party
headquarters. Few voters here know which lawmakers have made which laws anyway.
(END)