MB: “Politics Can’t Keep Up with the Economy”

[Financial News] Former President Lee Myung-bak said on the 8th, “Our economy has now reached the level of one of the world’s top 10 powers, but politics seems unable to keep up with it.”
Lee made the remarks after being asked about current political issues while visiting Cheonggyecheon with members of the Association for Loving Cheonggyecheon (Cheongsamo), a group of Seoul city officials who took part in the stream’s restoration project when he was mayor of Seoul.
“If politics changed, our Korean economy could probably grow a great deal more,” he said, adding, “That’s a little regrettable.”
He said little about the current administration’s governance but stressed the importance of communicating with the public. “Wouldn’t the president listen to the people’s voices now? Things will gradually get better,” Lee said. “Rather than listening to the opposition, it’s important to listen to the people.”
At 10 a.m. that day, Lee set out from Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul’s Jung District and walked about 5.8 km to Sindap Railway Bridge in Seongdong District, taking close to two hours.
Wearing a teal windbreaker and sneakers, he visited Cheonggyecheon, obliged citizens who asked to shake hands and take photos with him, and greeted foreign tourists first with “Hello” (in English).
He also continued to explain the Cheonggyecheon restoration project himself. Pointing to both sides of the covered section of the stream, Lee explained, “There are drainage tunnels on both sides. When it rains in Seoul, if the water flows straight into Cheonggyecheon, the fish would die, so it flows separately.”
Cheongsamo holds Cheonggyecheon walking events twice a year, every May and October.
Those attending the event included Cheongsamo Chairman Jang Seok-hyo, a former Seoul vice mayor; former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan; former chief of staff to the president Ha Geum-yeol; former justice ministers Kim Gyeong-han and Lee Gwi-nam; former senior presidential secretary for public relations Hong Sang-pyo; and former National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon, along with other figures from the Lee Myung-bak administration. Around 80 former Seoul city officials and citizens also joined the walk.

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter