[Reading Notes] Former MBC Reporter's Home Letter to Understanding Korea and Reflecting on Taiwan - "I Believe the World Can Change: A Mirror Provided by a Korean MBC Reporter"

I started writing this book for my twin sons. When the hospital said I had limited life left and faced an unpredictable future, it was the young children that I was most worried about. It must be quite difficult for a wife to raise two boys by herself. More importantly, I worry about what to do when my child has no one to talk to at a time when he is facing a major life decision. Therefore, I want to tell them what is going on in this society through the life I have experienced.

In August 2019, former South Korean MBC reporter Li Rongma passed away. Although compared to JTBC's well-known anchor Sun Shixi (author of "The Song of Crickets"), perhaps not many people in Taiwan know about this person. Liberalism reached out to the media, successfully reinstated after standing up to fight, but still a well-known Korean journalist who died of peritoneal cancer in the end. However, despite the strong idealism that can be felt from the title of the book, this work he left behind during his lifetime is definitely worthy of a good read by all those who are concerned about the future development of Taiwan's society and politics.

As the author's preface said, "I Believe the World Can Change: A Mirror Provided by Korean MBC Reporters" is more like a family letter he left to his two sons than political commentary and social observation. However, his life story of growing up with the Korean economy, and his experience as a reporter on economic, social and political lines from Hunan, are also the best way for foreign readers to understand Korean social divisions, changes in the political environment, and the development of the media.

Explaining the development of modern Korean society from the perspective of journalists

Because he was born in Hunan (Jeonla Province), he can strongly feel the influence of the regional complex in society; the "cultivation" of the political department made him more accustomed to fighting, and he was able to look at the difficult times during the Roh Moo-hyun government from a different perspective. The "March 86 Generation" who turned from a street movement to a political figure but lacked connotation; during his tenure as a reporter, the stationed police station became the best window to understand South Korea's procuratorial and judicial culture at close range; during the most critical period of economic reporters, It also allowed him to analyze how South Korean chaebols went through economic crises and became giants too big to fail. And his job as a reporter allowed him to see clearly the challenges faced by South Korean public media.

Although many ills of Korean society are pointed out, perhaps the most pondering in the book is the lament of the Roh Moo-hyun government. He won the title of "Fool" because he always challenged the impossible. Roh Moo-hyun entered the Blue House with the lowest education in history. He not only tried to cross the geographical complex, continued the "Sunshine Policy" to maintain a good relationship with North Korea, but finally jumped off a cliff under various scandals died. Among the previous presidents of South Korea, Roh Moo-hyun can be said to be the eternal pain in the hearts of many progressive people, and with Lee Yong-ma's in-depth analysis, we can also better understand this period of political history before the "Korean Wave" became popular.

Why did the two democratic governments of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun fail to reform? How is the resistance of the vested rights forces formed? What should the new reform do if it wants to succeed? Looking back, we can usually find the answer, we just don't pay attention.

Let South Korea's history be a mirror to reflect on Taiwan's development

Why should we understand the recent changes in Korea? "Understanding Korea! Understanding Taiwan!" on the waist of the book may be the best footnote. After reading "I Believe the World Can Change: A Mirror Provided by Korean MBC Reporters", you can find that the social issues of the two countries are not completely equal. , but can often find corresponding parts. Especially when South Korea's conservatives regain power in 2022, there may be many things to observe about South Korea's future development.

Finally, it is highly recommended that readers read the preface written by Hao Mingyi, chairman of Dabu Culture, before the official start. In addition to a lot of background knowledge introduction, coupled with his past experience in Korea, the whole reading will also be interesting. Experience better and deeper.

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