Lee Needs to Focus on Economic Revitalization

Should persuade people for smoother communications

President Lee Myung-bak, who has reached his first anniversary as head of state, is now faced with the daunting task of keeping the nation afloat in defiance of the lingering economic slowdown that is hitting both the global and domestic economies.
Officials from the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Grand National Party members also agree on the need for the energetic president to focus on expanding contacts with the people as a means of facilitating communications with them.
Such a call comes from the seemingly negative public opinion against the current government, especially in the wake of the killings of civilians by the police during a sudden raid on a group of people forced to withdraw from their previous residences in downtown Seoul.
The governing camp claims that the administration has managed to lay the groundwork for the nation to cope with the ongoing and unprecedented economic recession with daring and prompt measures. But wary of the possible repercussions, the relevant figures stop short of elaborating on the issues of personnel policy and beef import negotiations with the United States in return for the envisioned finalization of the free trade agreement between Korea and the U.S.
But they agree on the need to takes measures to facilitate communications between Cheong Wa Dae and the people in general.
Cheong Wa Dae published a press release that reads, "We have been exerting our best efforts to realize two goals of overcoming the economic difficulties and creating growth engines." It also vowed efforts to get over the lingering financial crisis, mend ties with neighboring nations like the China, Japan and Russia, speed up deregulation and ensure green growth.
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo also underlined the need to yield more policies based on the outcome of the past one year while taking steps designed to shorten the distance between the government and the people.
Governing party leader Park Hee-tae also said, "Should the premier and ministers do more to help President Lee, the people will be able to feel better." Experts cite the need for the government to take bolder steps to address the crisis.
President Lee Myung-bak's top priority is to revive the slumping economy. But it is not easy to do so amid the global financial and economic crisis. He needs to overhaul his policy directions for this year in a bid to cope with deteriorating conditions at home and abroad.












It is important to bring hope to the people and present a new vision for a better future so that the nation can smoothly tide over the hard times. As seen during the 1997-1998 financial crisis, the country was successful in returning to normalcy over a short period, as the people never lost hope. Thus, all economic players had better be confident that they can make it.
President Lee has said that South Korea will be one of the first countries to recover from the global downturn next year. He made the remarks during a 90-minute roundtable discussion with panelists, broadcast live by local TV channel SBS. He even said that the 2009 growth rate will rebound to as high as 4.2 percent.
What is noteworthy is that Lee said the government must not just talk only about the pessimistic aspects. During a workshop for Cabinet ministers and vice ministers Sunday, he went further by calling for the spreading of an "aura of positivity." He was seen as trying to send a message of hope and positive thinking, which will certainly help turn the economy around.













However, only words will not bring hope to the nation. President Lee should act more to match his words of hope and optimism. As he pointed out, people will not trust the government if the economy does not get better by next year. Therefore, he and his policymakers should prove that they are not just paying lip service.
First of all, Lee should restore public confidence in his leadership, which has been damaged by a series of controversial policies, including the resumption of U.S. beef imports, since his inauguration in February 2008. Lee needs to humbly listen to the people's voices in a bid to build a national consensus on major issues. For this, it is urgent to establish a two-way communication channel to better reflect public opinion.
President Lee is also required to change his bulldozer-like leadership style. His top-down, "follow me" way of ruling has not worked well. Thus, he ought to seek people's understanding and encourage their participation from the bottom up. Lee once promised to "lower himself" to get closer to people during the candlelit rallies against American beef imports last summer. We want to see our president keep his promise.
Lee is also urged to do more to bring an end to the dog-eat-dog partisan political struggles and to troubleshoot conflicts among different interest groups in a move to promote social integration. Now is the time for the Lee administration to show new leadership and adopt new thinking and a new policy to translate words of hope into action.
What matters is the fact that the current economic crisis shows no signs of abating at least for the time being. This is because the economic downturn is a global phenomenon not limited to this nation and its neighboring countries.
In the past financial crisis, Korea was able to cope with the hardship by exporting to other advanced nations in the West. But this time the situation has changed in that the nation, with its heavy reliance on exports, has no affluent markets to sell its products to since most developed nations cannot accord to buy its products because they, too, are on the brink of financial crisis.
Pessimists come with dark prospects regarding the future of the economy, even forecasting a continued drop until 2011.
Given this, President Lee faces the daunting task of coping with the economic hardship despite all the odds at home and abroad. nw

President Lee Myung-bak presides over a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 17. President Lee has recently appointed his government's second economic team, headed by Minister of Strategy and Finance Yoon Jeung-hyun to overcome the economic crisis.

(left)President Lee takes a look at the products on display at the Gangneung Maritime Bio Industry Support Center in Gangneung, Gangwon Province on Feb. 1. (right) The president chats with the members of the Presidential Green Growth Committee during the committee's first meeting held on Feb. 16.

President Lee shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prior to their talks at Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 20. Lee talks with visiting Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang on Jan. 19.