Policy changes for Moon’s success

This is the exact title of my March 19, 2018 article in this column. The government announced on that day that there will be a third inter-Korean summit in April and that North Korea had made a conditional pledge to give up its nuclear weapons and renounce its provocations against South Korea.

I was fully aware of the questionable outcomes of the two previous summits: the 2000 meeting between President Kim Dae-jung and North Korea’s Kim Jong-il, and the 2007 one between President Roh Moohyun and again Kim Jong-il.

Besides, many experts predicted that President Moon Jae-in’s approach to denuclearization would not be successful. Kim Jong-un would never give up his nuclear weapons.

I still supported President Moon, hoping that his presidency would be successful, not only in inter-Korea relations but in domestic and global issues as well. I proposed March 19 last year that “Let us give our full support to Moon for his tireless efforts.”

Well. I am not giving up on President Moon as many of his previous supporters have done. I am not giving up because Moon still has more than two years to go and can make changes in such a way that the people in Korea can feel free again. Today, most Koreans are feeling as if something is blocking their digestive system, holding them from moving forward, and feeling chained.

Stated simply, most Koreans are scared of the future.

To make all of us inside and outside of Korea feel free again and smile again, I am suggesting that the President make the following policy changes.

Tell Kim Jong-un what the South will do if the North responds positively toward peaceful unification under a political system based on freedom, liberty and true democracy. Do not beg. Be patient and smart. Seventy years of hostility cannot be reversed overnight. Obviously, the tyrannical system of the North is not ready to accept President Moon’s noble proposals.

Make major efforts to strengthen the national defense against possible provocation from the North. South Korea cannot allow the North to dictate terms in the future under the threat of nuclear weapons.

Review policies toward North Korean refugees living in South Korea. No one should be allowed to starve to death. They risked their lives for the freedom we all cherish. South Korea, as a civilized nation, cannot allow a single refugee to go hungry in our rich country.

Restore friendly relations with Japan. No longer allow South Korean courts to decide compensation issues relating to forced labor and “comfort women,” a euphemism for sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Good or bad, most issues were settled through the 1965 treaty that normalized diplomatic ties between Seoul and Tokyo. Restore the General Security of Military Information Agreement with Japan. It is an important symbol of joint efforts by Korea, the U.S. and Japan to counter military threats from North Korea.

Maintain the solid alliance with the United States, and reaffirm the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Republic of Korea and the United States, signed Oct. 1, 1953. Ideally, Korea can be unified and remain neutral in global politics. Those days may come, but cannot be rushed.

This is not the time to cut ties with the U.S. In view of recent developments inside Korea, I have no doubt that policymakers in the U.S. are considering the unthinkable option of withdrawing from the Mutual Defense Treaty. This option could lead to the virtual devastation of South Korea.

Eliminate controversial regulations for businesses. Freeze the minimum wage for the next five years. Suspend the 52-hour work rule. Rein in the power of unions.

The gig economy, which is a phenomenon characterized by a rise in independent or outside contracted work, is flourishing in advanced economies. Excessive power by organized labor keeps this from playing an important role in the

Korean economy.

Businesses in Korea must be feeling that they are welcome everywhere in the world except in Korea.

Suspend, if not cancel, the phaseout policy of nuclear power. The benefits from the phase-out are few, while costs are huge. Any environmental concerns about nuclear power should be taken care of without the phase-out policy.

Forget the idea of establishing a special probe unit for high-ranking officials, directly under the control of President. This dark idea is the key to maintaining political power used by terrible leaders in China, Russia and yes North Korea. Note that the same unit can also investigate President Moon and his associates in the future.

Make sure there is complete freedom in religion and news reporting without which a civilized society cannot exist.

Finally, people who work for you now will quickly abandon you if you fail. People who are critical of you now will support you if you succeed.

Koreans are forgiving and emotional, providing a window of opportunity for you to make bigtime midterm corrections in policies. When you make all the changes, listed above and beyond, you will be remembered as one of the great presidents of Korea, and most of us will be able to say, again: Let us all support President Moon.