Caption. Trump's pleasantries were packaged as prophecy, and a fruitless summit as an achievement. However, what the public saw was not a fortune-telling but a scam. Left: Trump, Right: Kang Hoon-sik. Haniilbo Graphics

Reading the self-praise poured out by the Presidential Office regarding the Korea-US summit, one can't help but think of "I don't care about others, only my own field." 

Kang Hoon-sik, Senior Secretary to the President for Political Affairs, relayed that President Trump said, "I knew you would be elected a long time ago," during a private luncheon, and exaggerated this as "proof that he doesn't believe in (South Korea's) fraudulent elections." 

Such an overreaction to mere diplomatic pleasantries has drawn jeers from the public, with some asking, "Is Trump a fortune-teller?" The Presidential Office's interpretation was forced and childish. He is a three-term National Assembly member from the Democratic Party of Korea, known for his strength in strategic planning. The word "strategic planning" itself should be ashamed.

This is not the end of it. Kang Yoo-jung, Spokesperson for the Presidential Office, claimed the summit was "successful even without a joint statement," despite the absence of any tangible outcomes or documents. Is this "dissociated speech"? It's absurd.

In diplomacy, a joint statement is the minimum record of achievement. The phrase "success without a document" is nothing more than linguistic sophistry, an attempt to sugarcoat a confession of no substantial agreement. 

Adding to this, Lee Gyu-yeon, Senior Secretary to the President for Public Communication, described the summit as a "dramatic turning point hit." His past as an investigative journalist comes to mind.

This is akin to painting over an illusion and then proclaiming it a masterpiece. The Presidential Office staff did not paint the eyes of a dragon; they painted over an illusion to make it seem real. Drawing stripes on a pumpkin will not turn it into a watermelon. 

What is even more astonishing is the self-praise from Wi Sung-lak, Director of National Security, who said, "The chemistry between the two leaders was good." How little they had to report to resort to this. It is pathetic and regrettable.

Diplomacy is not about making friends; it is a cold exchange of national interests. The accumulation of personal friendships between leaders can be a secondary outcome, but the moment it is presented as an achievement of the summit, national dignity disappears, and politics devolves into a show. 

What the public wants to see is not flowery rhetoric or boasts of friendship. They want agreements that are documented, tangible results that can be verified, and achievements that clearly demonstrate national interest.

The situation becomes even more bizarre with President Lee Jae-myung's "seed theory." On the 29th, President Lee emphasized fiscal expansion at a cabinet meeting, saying, "Don't let the field lie fallow just because there are no seeds; borrow them if you must and sow them." This is the second time he has mentioned this, following the "National Finance Savings Meeting" on August 13. 

However, what is truly important is not "when to sow the seeds," but "what kind of seeds to sow in what kind of soil." If you plant barley instead of rice in a paddy field, you will have a poor harvest no matter how timely you are. The same applies to national administration. The harvest of people's lives is only possible when the seeds of policy and the soil of institutions are in harmony. 

Ignoring the seeds and the soil and approaching it with a "just don't miss the timing" mentality only foretells a famine. 

The Presidential Office interpreted Trump's pleasantries as a prophecy, and President Lee simplified state affairs with the "seed theory." However, in the eyes of the public, it appears as "dangerous seed-sowing" where achievements are fabricated out of thin air. 

The President and his aides are so busy fabricating achievements. It's unclear if they are doing this because there are no actual achievements. However, seeing this, I am reminded of what former President Yoon Suk-yeol said when he was Prosecutor General. 

"I am not loyal to people." 

Is the Presidential Office not now being loyal to the president's personal reputation rather than the nation and its people? Such loyalty will only ruin the president and disappoint the public. 

If they lack the competence, the public has no choice but to consider a change. Resigning voluntarily is also an option.

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