(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Aug. 15)

Regionalism at play

The words and actions of Democratic Party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun are very
dangerous.
At a DP executive meeting yesterday, he said that the government???s four rivers
restoration project "should be called the Nakdong River project" and claimed that
"60 percent of the budget should go to the Nakdong River and the other three
rivers should only play supporting roles."

Instead of considering the broader purpose of the project, he is stoking
controversy by provoking regional emotions. It is hard to believe such words came
from the mouth of the leader of the largest opposition party, the one that ruled
the country for the past 10 years.
This is not a first for Chung, who continuously makes remarks that stimulate
regional emotions. When he visited Gwangju on Aug. 6, he caused a stir by saying,
???The civil servant world is getting rid of all Honam officials.???
However, according to one newspaper analysis, the percentage of high-ranking
officials - those grade 1 or above - from Yeongnam decreased to 36.5 percent from
39.7 percent during former President Roh Moo-hyun???s administration.
While the percentage of officials from Honam decreased to 18 percent from 22.8
percent during former President Kim Dae-jung???s administration, using the phrase
???getting rid of all Honam officials??? is a gross exaggeration.
This is not to say that we should try to determine which region is getting the
???most??? benefits. The point is that a leader who supposedly represents a broad
base of people and interests should at least refrain from acting as a
spokesperson for a certain region.
Furthermore, it is very irresponsible to lead the public down the road of
division and conflict without any logical evidence behind him.
Chairman Chung said, ???If absolute evaluation is accurate, there is no need for
comparative evaluation.??? But as Democratic Party assemblyman Cho Kyoung-tae
pointed out, the key figures in the DP are in fact all from Honam, with Chairman
Chung and floor leader Lee Kang-rae from North Jeolla Province and legislator
Park Jie-won from South Jeolla Province.
People from Honam have suffered the most damage due to regional conflicts. And
they, as well as the Democratic Party, have nothing to gain from provoking such
ruinous regional emotions once again.
Perhaps a few politicians who are trying to expand their power within the
political party using certain regional attitudes will be able to benefit from it
for a little while. However, that would be an eternal sin committed in front of
the entire nation.
(END)