The agreement of nominating a united single presidential candidate between Chung Mong-joon and Roh Mu-hyun is subject to be cancelled. This rather astonishing phase of the presidential race made most voters more disgusted and indifferent to politics. A couple of days ago, Roh and Chung had shared celebratory drinks together after reaching out for the agreement, and now they are calling for its cancellation. Considering those recent steps made by two competitive candidates, it is very natural for voters to get extremely confused. It seems like bartering in the street is more clear and justifiable than this.

Furthermore, an alleged cause of the turmoil makes them look more ridiculous in voters' eyes. One camp accused the other of leaking plans on the poll methodology that were supposed to be kept secret, while calling for renegotiation. The other side blamed the press and the media, calling them "the force of dissolution wishing to breakup the merger between them."

How could they blame the journalists for leaking their plans? If the contents of the agreement were so secret requiring extreme security, they are the ones who should protect the information, not us. Also, in general, the process of the public poll cannot be performed in a clandestine manner. Knowing that, we hardly understand leaking plans on the poll as the reason for the breakup of the agreement. If and only if the crisis took place due to the two party’s deficient negotiation techniques, it would be a chance for voters to evaluate their amateur-leveled negotiation techniques.

We question their honesty and sincerity in accepting a defeat in order to raise a single candidate. If they still have honest motivation to achieve a merger, it seems to be not very difficult to resolve technical concerns during negotiations.

Anyway, since everything has happened already, a last resolution between them should be made as soon as possible to make voters less confused, while making a clear presidential race. They must know the only have one month left for them.

November 20, 2002