President Moon’s five years were an era of purge and plague
Can you bring out much resentment from others but seek your own comfort?
Don’t run away in anger. You reap what you sow.
By Sunwoo Jung, Editorial Writer at the Chosun Ilbo
(Editor’s note: The following column was published by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper on February 16. This column was widely circulated among conservatives on Wednesday, and many commentators praised it for making a crucial point with just over 20 days until the election.)
President Moon Jae-in said, “I am extremely furious that [the presidential candidate from the opposition party] labeled the current government a target of investigation without any grounds,” and “I demand an apology.” Creatures like lions respond to this kind of situation by saying, “Do whatever you think you can do.” The weaker you are, the louder you are when angry. He was certainly frightened.
President Moon’s era, which history will define in the future, is clear. It is an era of purge and plague. During the “Gapjasahwa,” the largest purge of the Joseon Dynasty, 239 people suffered from sentences that were more severe than exile. (Editor’s note: This purge was caused by the tyrant Yeonsangun after learning the reason for the death of his mother.) It is said that a similar number of people suffered from President Moon’s so-called “eradicating deep-rooted evils” campaign, and they were either arrested or indicted. More people were kicked out of work after being framed as deep-rooted evils and lost their foundations in life. They were victims of character assassination.
The severity of punishment varied, but the impact on society was similar. The tyrant, who caused the Gapjasahwa purge, went crazy from the fear, insecurity, and emptiness of the resentment around him and crossed the critical point of tyranny. If the punishment is excessive, even tyrants feel anxious. This would be more likely the case for the president of this era. One can fully understand the inner anxiety behind the rigid face. How can you drive so many people into the abyss and pursue only your own comfort?
There are times when eradication of the wrongdoings of old times is necessary. I think President Moon’s five years were such an era. If retaliation and punishment had been restrained and forgiveness had been put forward, it would have been a turning point in history. However, he did not stop even after two previous presidents were punished. Attending the inaugural ceremony of the judicial branch, he said, “The suspicion of judicial manipulation by the last administration must be clarified.” He even called this the “candlelight spirit.” (Editor’s note: During the last few months of President Park Geun-hye’s term in office before she was impeached, people protested by holding candles and calling for her resignation and impeachment. At that time, many liberals, including Moon Jae-in, called the movement the “candlelight revolution.”)
After his speech, 14 high-ranking judges, including a former chief justice of the Supreme Court, were indicted, and 66 incumbent judges were framed as those who committed misconduct and their names were given to the Supreme Court. Most of them were found not guilty, but they lost their lives and honor. President Moon has never looked back on their situation.
He also brought up a case from 10 years ago and said, “The prosecution and police should risk their fate and find out the truth thoroughly.” He even told them to ignore the statute of limitations. The Moon administration also committed illegal investigations. How are these different from a tyrant’s obsessions? One cannot find the basic virtue of a leader – benevolence – in Moon Jae-in’s politics. There is no compassion and mercy. There were only investigations for the sake of investigations, and purges for the sake of purges.
President Moon was confident when he was talking about the “candlelight spirit.” One day in May 2020, the president appeared in public with a face with swollen lips. Around that time, rumors circulated around the presidential Blue House that the president is “drinking alone” every night.
Shakespeare’s tragedy penetrates the psychology of all people in power, from old and new and from Eastern and Western cultures. Macbeth, who ascended the throne, began to see things that are not real due to fear after he failed to kill the son of Banquo, who was destined to take his place. Holding onto a third-class assassin who failed to assassinate the son, Macbeth screamed that he is now trapped amid suspicion and fear. What was confining Macbeth in doubt and fear was the birth of the future power he did not want. What would President Moon have felt when the general who he raised began to point a sword at his close aides’ and their corruption? Like Macbeth, did he hold onto the third-class assassin Choo Mi-ae and complain about his seizure? (Editor’s note: Choo was a veteran lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party who was appointed as the Minister of Justice under the Moon administration. Choo and Yoon Seok-youl, who was the Prosecutor General appointed by Moon as well, clashed with each other when Yoon ordered prosecutors to investigate cases related to the wrongdoings of the current administration. Choo tried to stop Yoon from executing his right to order the prosecution to investigate certain cases. Ultimately, the two both resigned, and Yoon now has become the presidential candidate from the main opposition People Power Party.)
Feeling afraid, Macbeth immediately collapses. When his wife, Lady Macbeth, commits suicide over her guilt, he faces the culmination of his breakdown. A symbolic line representing Macbeth appears at this time. “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot.” Macbeth goes to the battlefield and faces his ending. “Blow, wind! Come, wrack!” As Shakespeare said, “Blood will have blood.”
The end of President Moon’s era is long and rough. He ignored democratic principles and hung on to his own survival. He deprived the prosecution of its right to investigate and dismantled investigation teams. He appointed close allies loyal to the regime to key positions. He completely blocked the investigation of those in power. If the prosecution investigated the Blue House’s intervention in the Ulsan mayoral election, manipulation of the economic feasibility study of the Wolsong nuclear reactor, the Lee Sang-jik scandal that involved the president’s relatives, and other scandals surrounding the corruption of the government, following common sense, this administration’s 40-percent approval rating sandcastle would have collapsed a long time ago. President Moon carried over his future. At the same time, he tries to get a promise of indulgence only for himself.
President Moon’s narrative is dramatic, but without an aesthetic. It is because it was cowardly. He pretends to be aloof while being obsessed with power, and pretends to be nice while coveting blood. He pretends to be confident while longing for comfort, and pretends to be successful after failing. President Moon’s five years are an era of purge. To borrow Shakespeare’s expression, “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” Don’t run away in anger. You reap what you sow.
