March 9 next year is election day for the 20th president of the Republic of Korea. There are less than 90 days left. The 'political season is slowly approaching its climax, but the common element in the various opinion polls are those undecided. In particular, the proportion of undecided in their 20s and 30s is the highest of the 15 million young people who will vote. This is because the presidential candidates have not made know their policies and promises.
Now, the public will not be deceived by the support or criticism of 'don’t ask'. They will not be deceived by lies and groundless black propaganda that shook up elections in the past. Rather, voters are more active in identifying whether one speaks lies disguised as truth. They also can thoroughly verify whether they're uttering unreasonable promises, and have their own insight into what the spirit of the times is. However, presidential candidates are still appealing for votes in the confrontational structure between regions in the ideological debate between progressives and conservatives, a legacy of the Cold War of the 20th century.
Then, what are the qualities of a president the people need now? First of all, a just and fair president, not wanting a gorgeous image, eloquence, high education, and colorful history. A candidate who hides the truth incites hatred and confrontation with vulgar deception does not deserve to be president. They are looking for a candidate who protects the community while caring for the socially disadvantaged and striving to resolve the gap between the rich and the poor. But what about the current presidential election? The policy directly related to the real life of the people is behind the scenes: youth employment, housing policies are also deceiving voters by relying solely on numbers.
Policies and visions are the seeds of today, sown for the future of the people. This is because the seeds of policy are the hope of tomorrow. Policies and visions should have specific targets and feasible solutions. A concrete and feasible peace policy on the Korean Peninsula should be presented through competition and cooperation, rather than a diplomatic and security policy that leads to confrontation and isolation. In this presidential election, the vision of what kind of country they want to create over the next five years has not appeared yet. The people who are voters are worried about the president and the country and are restless.
The people want a president who sympathizes, communicates, and integrates division and conflict. Pope Francis said, "The pursuit of the common good is the right politics, and governing is an act of serving the people."Confucius said in his Analects: "It is politics to have enough food, enough weapons, and gain the faith of the people," adding, "If you have to choose between these three, you have to gain the faith of the people." This means that there is no place for a president who does not gain public trust. Now, the people desperately want a president who sympathizes with living in poverty, becoming single parents at a young age, and living as disabled, elderly, and migrants.
A president who approaches political opponents who strongly criticize him, pursuing new policies and reform tasks that the times want and the people want, gives hundreds of speeches, puts down his vested interests, and sincerely tries to persuade. A president who accepts the results and is willing to applaud his opponent for the victory. The writer wants to vote for a candidate who presents policies and visions that heat the hearts of the people, gives dreams and hope, and wants to participate in actions as a citizen.
