(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Dec.1)

Reunion of Rivals: Shadows of Two Former Leaders Are Too Long

Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam have been each others' biggest rivals for life,
except when they fought against dictators.
The two ex-presidents, often called by their initials DJ and YS, are still
spiritual leaders of the left-of-center and right-of-center ideological groups,
which are currently splitting Korea in two. So, their reconciliation will be good
for not only them but the country. That is, if it is possible while they are
alive.
Their latest clash came last week over the government's North Korea policy. DJ
criticized the Lee Myung-bak administration as ``intentionally driving
inter-Korean relations into rupture" for political reasons. He also attacked Lee
as running counter to the nation's democratic accomplishments by returning to
high-handed politics, calling for liberal solidarity against the government.
It is not difficult to figure out what made the retired politician, known for his
prudence in acts and words, so angry ??? the near total loss of his ``sunshine
policy'' seeking peace and reconciliation with North Korea, as well as Korea's
democratization.
Even angrier were the responses from the governing Grand National Party and
conservative media outlets, however, as if the octogenarian leader had stirred up
a hornets' nest. They accused DJ of unilaterally siding with Pyongyang and
instigating an anti-governmental struggle, going way over the line as a former
chief executive.
The governing camp's criticism of DJ is in part agreeable. The former president
went a little too far in both expressions and interpretation of the situation.
Still, governing camp officials should try to understand the true intention of
the old politician instead of tripping the ex-leader up with his words.
Most regrettable was the comment from YS, who used such harsh expressions as (DJ
was) ``acting like a spokesman of Kim Jong-il'' and ``stirring up
anti-governmental protests for fear his crimes committed against the nation over
the past decade would be discovered.''
DJ's aides struck back, saying, ``YS should remain silent, as he was the very man
who nearly threw the nation into a war and brought about the 1997-98 financial
crisis."
Both DJ and YS are great politicians but not without their own problems. YS
joined hands with dictatorial remnants to take power, but eliminated room for
military intervention in politics for good. He also ``revolutionized'' the
financial industry by obligating real names in all transactions. YS caused the
so-called IMF crisis, but somehow, it could be regarded as the result of three
decades of breakneck growth, exploded by YS's hasty liberalization.
DJ's diplomatic and economic accomplishments also overshadow his suspected
behind-the-scenes deal with Pyongyang, while his credit card fiasco was somewhat
inevitable to get out of the financial crisis as early as possible.
The time has long past for the two most influential politicians and their
followers ??? including the incumbent president and his immediate predecessor ???
to stop vilifying each other and finding faults with their rivals while turning a
blind eye to their merits.
Aides of the two Kims are reportedly seeking to reconcile their bosses by
restoring their one-time friendship in the pre-democratization days of two
decades ago.
Korea has been divided for six decades into South and North. If the South remains
divided into East and West, as it is now, the country will be retrogressing to
the Three Kingdom Era of more than a millennium ago.
(END)