[Column] A leader trapped in his own cage

Lee Jae-myung must keep his mouth shut and open ears. Then could he have the courage to let go of his privilege of no arrest and boldly face his fate.

Lee Ha-kyung

The author is a senior columnist of the JoongAng Ilbo. Former National Assembly secretary general Yoo In-tae in his youthful days had been at the death’s door. He stood trial on charges of treason and breaking the National Security Law for the student democracy movement in 1974. When he was sentenced to death, he chuckled out in disbelief. His mother seated in the back gallery had been dozing off.

The young man who had been fearless and composed in the face of death stayed selfless as a politician. When he was the senior secretary for political affairs to president Roh Moo-hyun in the early 2000s, he forthrightly advised the president to watch his language. Still, he was most trusted by the president. I remember the days when I distributed leaflets urging the release of prisoners of conscience like Yoo, Lee Chul and Lee Hyun-bae when I was a college student. The victims of the military regime were released after four years under the international pressure. Even after joining politics, Yoo managed to remain as a realist without tilting to one side.

Yoo who had tasted the kiss of death spoke out to give a piece of advice to Democratic Party (DP) Chair Lee Jae-myung facing the moment of truth in his political career under prosecutorial summoning. “I hope he could practice politics that can impress the people,” said Yoo as he watched Lee bent on rallying support from DP lawmakers to vote down the prosecution’s request for an arrest warrant for him over suspicions of bribery and breach of trust when he was Seongnam mayor and Gyeonggi governor. Yoo advised Lee to humbly comply with a court hearing to determine whether to issue an arrest warrant instead of demanding another round of voting on his fate. “Lee must not try to extend his political life without taking any risks. In fact, his detention could be helpful,” added Yoo. The veteran political sage was able to accurately translate the public sentiment.

But the advice falls on deaf ears, as Lee lives in another world. “We must continue fighting back if the invaders keep attacking. If a head of state abuses his power, he is a gangster, not a president,” said Lee. Lee keeps mum about a plethora of accusations against him over the real estate development scandals of Daejang-dong and Baekhyun-dong, Seongnam; a “third party” bribery for the city’s football club; and illegal cash remittance to North Korea by SBW Group, all of which took place when he was the city mayor and later Gyeonggi governor. Lee had repeatedly vowed to do away with the lawmaker privilege of not being arrested while a legislative session is underway without a consent from the National Assembly. But he claims his case is different.

Lee is oblivious to the chilling public sentiment. Polls show that public approval of the prosecution’s investigation of Lee while under detention is much higher than disapproval. Calls for the scrapping of lawmakers' immunity against arrest are twice the support for the privilege. As a result, the DP’s approval rating has plummeted to a level of a double-digit gap with the People Power Party (PPP), President Yoon’s party.

A senior judge said the trial could go on and on due to a lack of decisive evidence despite a bunch of testimonies. The DP’s image and everyday operation will be critically impaired if its boss is frequently summoned to the court. Any follies of the Yoon administration also will be overshadowed by Lee’s judicial risks. At this rate, the DP has no chance of winning the parliamentary election in April next year. Some in the DP even suggested Lee resign from the chairmanship in return for voting down the request for an arrest warrant. An overwhelming majority of people support his resignation if the prosecution indicts Lee. Lee has become a windfall for the PPP but a doom for the DP.

In the jungle, there has been an ancient method of trapping monkeys. The natives drill a hole into a wooden box large enough for a monkey’s hand to barely pass through and lay fruit inside. A monkey would reach out his hand to get the fruit, but with the prize in his grip, he cannot get his hand out. As long as he does not let go of his treat, he would be caught by his hunters. The immunity against an arrest warrant can be a treat that may cost Lee’s political life.

Lee argued the documents in the arrest warrant showed no evidence of any irregularities. If so, he should not fear to stand trial. The people cannot understand why he is out to ruin the party that has produced three presidents with his personal scandals.

Democratic Party Chair Lee Jae-myung attends a full meeting of the supermajority party holding 169 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, Feb. 24. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Lee must pay heed to rational voices instead of being the foolish monkey entirely blinded by avarice. An aide to a boss boasted that his boss was very capable. Another aide to another boss said his boss made him feel competent. The late Prof. Kim In-su, a world-famous scholar on leadership study, found the latter a better leader. Former president Kim Young-sam can be compared to the latter boss. The power to draw out the potentials within from others comes from paying attention and listening to what others say.

As an opposition leader, Kim was purged from the legislature under the Park Chung Hee regime. He almost died from a 23-day hunger strike against the following Chun Doo Hwan regime. Kim even paid heed to the voices of aged villagers and became the first non-military president of Korea.

The way the DP chairman speaks and behaves is not impressive as he keeps his ears shut and only says what he wants to. He must keep his mouth shut and open his ears. Then could he have the courage to let go of his privilege of no arrest and boldly face his fate. If Lee changes, he can bring out some empathy from the public. That will save Lee and his party.