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As the presidential campaign develops into a race between Lee Hoi-chang and Roh Mu-hyun, the political community is becoming bipolar even though the candidates have not expressed any clear political ideology. In this kind of situation, they usually try and distance themselves from each other, and this is highly likely to produce a division that makes people feel insecure.
There are some positive signs that the candidates are trying to reach the central ground; Lee has changed his position on social and welfare areas from urging a reduction in outlay to expanding it, and will scrap the patriarchal head of the household system. On the other hand Roh is looking to embrace traditional views on diplomacy and security, including the maintenance of the USFK even after unification and continued security relations with the US.
Lee is also now looking to revise SOFA and impose increased quotas for the employment of women, and Roh is pushing for a seven percent economic growth rate. These compromises are encouraged as in advanced countries this works effectively with conservative groups accepting liberal views and vice versa. In Europe conservative parties pushed major welfare policies forward, while progressive ones advanced restructuring, removing areas of conflict within society.
What is more important is whether there is honesty and integrity in their changes. In the past there have been similar pledges, which have ended up merely as ornaments and the camouflage of a political identity to garner votes, and were discarded after the election. The candidates should not make any promise they cannot keep or have no intention of doing so.
It is the role of the candidates to compromise between ideological differences and middle of the road policies; only then can insecurity be removed and national unity achieved after the election. It is to be hoped the candidates will carry out their campaigns with this in mind.
December 4, 2002
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