Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - The presidential elections to be held in Korea in December 2012, are intended to "have a great impact on international politics." Citizens are required to recognize and exclude candidates who are apt at "deceit, greed, injustice and corruption" and to choose candidates who can endorse "justice, fairness, peace," putting an end to "policies in violation of human rights": is what the Bishops of South Korea say, remarking, seven months after the elections, that "collective decision making is a very important matter not only for the good of each individual, but also for the promotion of social justice and the common welfare."
While the country is about to enter the important phase of the campaign, in a message signed by Fr.Thaddaeus Lee Ki-shelf, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Korea and sent to Fides Agency, the Prelates of Korea are very careful when it comes to the next electoral passage, which will be decisive for the future of the country and for the entire Korean peninsula.
"We will witness both the reappearance of populists" who are dictated to by their adherents" recklessly issuing empty promises and false decisions", blinding citizens "by such seductive words," notes the text. "We may make a step forward toward the construction of a just, fair and human society, or, on the contrary, we may have to face a setback," it continues. In such a situation, the Bishops suggest, we must seek wisdom from the Bible that, in the book of Deuteronomy says: "Choose wise, intelligent, and experienced men from each of your tribes, that I may appoint them as your leaders" (Dt 1, 13).
In the 2012 presidential elections the current President Lee Myung Bak, of the conservative party "Saenuri" (the New Frontier Party), will not be able to recandidate because the Constitution forbids a second term. The hottest topics on which the parties confront each other, with regards to the domestic front: the economic situation (growth, youth employment, social problems); on the external side: tensions with North Korea. Conservatives seem to want to bet on a woman candidate, Park Geun Hye, daughter of former military dictator of South Korea, Park Chung Hee. Opposition parties, led by the Democratic Unification Party, are choosing their candidate. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/5/2012)
