Research says intellectuals most unfit for public office

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- People considered intellectuals, including university
professors and journalists, are least fit for public office, research results
released Tuesday said, contradicting the common notion that they are most
suitable for leadership roles.
According to the Public Leadership Index compiled by the Seoul National
University (SNU)'s Center for Public Leadership, the so-called intellectual group
scored 310.70 points out of maximum 1,200 points, 73.60 points less than former
and current Cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
The intellectual group's score was also lower compared with those of politicians,
corporate CEOs and civic activists, according to the center's research team.
The results were drawn from respondents' answers to 120 questions in three
categories designed to measure one's leadership traits, ability to perform within
an organization, and whether he or she can provide a vision for the future.
The questions were designed to be unassuming, the research team said. One asks
respondents to choose their favorite character between Othello and Iago; those
who chose Othello were considered to be more ethical.
Much of the details of the study were being withheld until the center releases
the results in full at its first-year anniversary on Thursday.
While the intellectual group showed superiority in quickly understanding core
context and in creativity and innovation, they recorded relatively low scores in
patience, ability to express themselves, and aptitude for public activities,
according to the research.
Government officials lagged in diversity of ideas, imagination and adaptability
to change but scored higher for maintaining calm in times of crisis, building
policies and looking ahead.
"The survey revealed that intellectuals are, in fact, the least suitable group as
public officials," said Kim Kwang-woong, chief of the center.
"Although the size of the sample was small, we selected high-profile figures
whose names are well known to the general public to ensure it was
representative," Kim said.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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