Philosophy academics join anti-government campaign

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- More than 500 philosophy professors and students
released a statement Thursday blasting the incumbent government for its alleged
authoritarianism and calling for a public apology from President Lee Myung-bak in
the most recent of a series of such statements by the country's academics.

Triggered by the May 23 suicide death of Lee's immediate predecessor Roh
Moo-hyun, a growing number of academicians and civic and religious groups have
been releasing statements slamming the Lee administration for clamping down on
civil liberties and launching what they condemn as a politically motivated
corruption probe into the late president.
"The Lee Myung-bak government is continuing to push through major policies
without paying attention to the public. Its rule is apparently anti-democratic
and authoritarian," said a statement signed by more than 505 members of the
Philosophical Engagement Network (PEN), which included Korean-German professor
Song Du-yul, who was given suspended sentence by a Seoul court for visiting North
Korea without the permission of the South Korean government.
PEN represents veteran philosophers, professors and graduate students.
"The president must give up on his authoritative and unyielding governing style
and discuss all policies with the public through democratic communication," the
statement said. "Koreans gathered to lament former President Roh Moo-hyun's
death, not just out of sadness, but out of anger over the nation's backtracking
democracy."
Roh, president from 2003 to 2008, leapt to his death from a mountainside
precipice above his southeastern hometown, expressing emotional stress over a
months-long corruption investigation that engulfed both the former leader and his
relatives. He was 62.
Despite allegations his family received millions of dollars from a local
businessman, Roh's death led to an outpouring of grief by South Koreans
apparently eager to forgive the liberal human rights lawyer-turned-politician.
Recent polls show that the majority of South Koreans believe the probe into Roh
was unusually harsh.
More than 1,000 professors from 30 different universities nationwide added their
names to statements critical of the government since the first of such was issued
on June 3 by the state-run Seoul National University professors.
Progressives here claim democracy has been backtracking since Lee took office in
February last year, beefing up police control of the central Seoul area to
prevent protests. The conservative administration has been cautious in permitting
events that could develop political overtones, especially after the months-long
rallies against U.S. beef imports last summer.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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