Attending the recent Seoul Economic Daily breakfast forum lecture by Kim Hyung-seok, Yonsei University professor emeritus and Korea's oldest philosopher at 106 years old this year, left me with many thoughts. The lecture titled "What I've Learned Living 100 Years: Unchanging Values in an Era of Transition" lasted over an hour and became increasingly absorbing as it progressed. Some audience members reportedly shed tears of emotion during the talk. It was an impressive lecture I will not forget for a long time.
Professor Emeritus Kim said he frequently receives questions about "the secret to longevity" and offered his own answer. "Among my friends and acquaintances, seven people lived to 100, and they shared common traits," he said, explaining that they did not get angry and did not speak ill of others. He added that in his own case, "I have lived believing that looking forward without regret rather than looking back is the wisdom of life."
What caught my attention was Professor Emeritus Kim's assessment of Inchon Kim Sung-su, whom he met while teaching at Jungang High School in Seoul starting in 1947. "Inchon gave me the impression of a great peak when I had only seen low hills," he said, adding that "rather than trying to do everything himself, he trusted capable people and delegated to them, leaving a significant legacy in education, industry, and media." He particularly emphasized that Inchon consistently maintained an altruistic stance, prioritizing national and public interest over personal gain in everything. He then expressed regret that "our country's politics today, regardless of ruling or opposition party, cannot escape selfish behavior." Of course, some may find such praise uncomfortable given Inchon's pro-Japanese activities, including encouraging students to enlist as soldiers near the end of Japanese colonial rule. However, the value of "altruistic politics" that Professor Emeritus Kim emphasized deserves to serve as a warning to the current political establishment mired in partisan calculations.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is embroiled in increasingly intense factional disputes. The merger push with the Rebuilding Korea Party collapsed due to opposition from the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, who claimed Democratic Party leader Chung Chung-rae was trying to bring in Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk to expand his own power base. Amid internal conflicts over prosecution reform, the "ABC" controversy sparked by writer Yoo Si-min amplified the infighting. Ahead of the June 3 local elections, the "Myung-Cheong conflict" between the pro-presidential office party leadership faction and the pro-Lee faction has become overt over the controversy about whether use of presidential photos was prohibited. With the challenge of overcoming economic crisis ahead, the ruling party's power struggles resemble selfish politics coveting power for private gain rather than altruistic politics serving the nation.
The People Power Party is in even worse shape. A clean break with former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who plunged the country into crisis with the illegal December 3 emergency martial law, remains distant. PPP leader Chang Dong-hyuk belatedly expressed willingness to cut ties with Yoon, but his actual behavior has focused on purging those who advocate such separation. Party nominations for local elections are being swayed by far-right figures chanting "Yoon Again" when the party should be creating momentum with candidates who meet public expectations. It appears to be hastening the party's self-destruction. In a recent Korea Gallup poll of nationwide voters, the record 30 percentage point gap—Democratic Party at 48% versus People Power Party at 18%—is largely attributable to Leader Chang.
The seemingly endless Middle East conflicts are weighing heavily on our economy. Now is the time for both ruling and opposition parties to abandon selfishness and devise all possible measures to overcome the crisis through united bipartisan cooperation. In this regard, while it may be overdue, it is fortunate that President Lee Jae-myung held a "ruling-opposition-government economic livelihood consultative meeting" on the 7th. More important than visible meetings is sincere commitment and action for the nation and its people. President Lee's appeal at the meeting that "internal unity is really important during such difficult times" must be translated into action through numerous meetings between ruling and opposition parties, and between the government and opposition.
In his recent National Assembly policy address, President Lee said, "In the face of national crisis, let the government and National Assembly, ruling and opposition parties, join hands and move forward solely with devotion for the people and nation." If this pledge is translated into action rather than remaining mere words, our politics can move from selfish politics toward altruistic politics. I hope the earnest dream Professor Emeritus Kim expressed at the end of his lecture—"I wish our nation, our country, and our families could live happily in a good world. I wish there would be no more abandoned people, poor people, or people suffering from war"—can be realized through altruistic bipartisan cooperation. If ruling and opposition parties do not heed and follow Professor Emeritus Kim's counsel urging them to prioritize public interest over private gain immediately, it may become difficult for future generations to inherit a better nation.
