By It doesn’t surprise me that the National Assembly ranks so low in this poll, but when civic groups and labor unions are considered the most law abiding organizations in Korea then you know there are problems:
The most upstanding individuals in Korea beat a policeman.
Koreans consider the National Assembly the least law-abiding organization. In a telephone survey of 800 adults across the country by the East Asia Institute and Hankook Research last Saturday, a mere 5.3 percent of respondents said parliament abides by the law.
Civic groups topped the list of upstanding organizations with 35 percent, followed by labor unions (23.3 percent), Cheong Wa Dae (18.4 percent), prosecution and police (16.2 percent), large conglomerates (16.2 percent).
Most or 63.6 percent of respondents claimed they themselves abide by the law, but only 48.2 percent took that kindly view of the general public.
Some 72.7 percent of respondents said law-abiding people were at a disadvantage in Korea, far more than the 26.1 percent who said it was to people’s advantage. Asked if they believe that laws are enforced fairly in Korea, 60.6 percent said no, and 38.3 percent said yes. [Chosun Ilbo]
Where do I begin on this?
I guess I could start with last years US beef nonsense perpetuate by lies from civic groups that used labor union muscle to break many laws and assault policemen. Then you have this years Yongsan fire incident where these “law abiding” civic groups actually killed a policeman. Or how about the 2002 Armored Vehicle Accident where once again lies by civic groups perpetuated nation wide hatred against USFK that saw these people break into US bases, assault, and even kidnap US soldiers.
Protesters battle police outside of Camp Humphreys.
Then you had these groups and unions once again launch a Braveheart style assault a few years ago against the expansion of Camp Humphreys. Or what about the attempted tearing down of the McArthur Statue in Incheon once again perpetuated by the so called most law abiding groups in Korea.
Protesters try to tear down General MacArthur Statue in Incheon.
I could go on and on but I think everyone gets the point that either this poll is flawed or that the Korean public has a warped sense of what is considered law abiding.
10:45 am on March 26th, 2009 1
And — though I don't agree with SK's National Security Law as it is, leaders from these groups have carried out what would be considered treason and espionage for the nation's number one enemy. They are also corrupt.
6:36 pm on March 26th, 2009 2
True these civic groups and unions engage in treason, espionage, and regular thuggery all the time. It's been proven that they work with Nork Korean espionage agents- see here at the ROK Drop.
However, the gullible public believes that this is just "democracy in action". They think that spreading lies/disinformation and getting violent in the streets is simply "exercising free speech".
They believe that if the government of Korea is not run by brainless lefty Nork stooges, then the government is the the most tyrannical dictatorship ever and it is their duty to oppose it.
Nice "democracy"!
8:24 pm on March 26th, 2009 3
This is pretty disappointing but by no means surprising.
9:20 am on March 27th, 2009 4
I don't think every civic group is like this, and I doubt it's what people were thinking of when they responded to the poll. There are pro-American civic groups as well. It doesn't surprise me that the National Assembly is distrusted; power was concentrated at the top for too long, with nothing in the middle. Now these groups are gaining appeal by filling the vacuum.
IMHO this is the biggest challenge to Korea: building democratic institutions without them being subverted into anti-democratic institutions.