President and English > IDEAS & IDEALS

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Recently I met with many people who were very much impressed by our new president and his English. Occasionally, they have seen and heard him on TV, speaking English to foreign visitors or making a speech in English. This was quite a new experience for our people, who had not seen the like before, and who did not expect him to speak a foreign language. Naturally they were quite curious about his English, about its quality or level, and some of them came to me with questions such as: "How can he speak English so well?" "When and where did he learn it?""Does he really speak English well?""How good is his English?""Isn't it broken English?"etc.

     As far as I can remember, President Kim Dae-jung is the first Korean president whose English-speaking ability whether it is good or not, has come to the focus of our attention. And, Indeed, he is quite conscious and proud of this fact. He seems to be ready to demonstrate and even flaunt this rare ability and to take full advantage of it before his admiring fans, whenever the opportunity arises.

     In fact, Kim Dae-jung is not the first Korean president who can speak English. Our first president, Rhee Syng-man went to the United States at an early age, went to college there, and earned his Ph.D. at Princetion University. For him English was more natural and convenient than his mother tongue. On the other hand, president Park Chung-hee, strangely enough, for his high intelligence and effort, was a very poor English-speaker. Both presidents Chun Doo-whan and Roh Tae-woo went to the Korea Military Academy, and they spoke English as much and as well as they needed to. President Kim Young-sam, who graduated from Seoul National University, the best university in the country, never gave any evidence that he was interested in learning English.

     There are several reasons for the fact that Kim Dae-jung's English is so conspicuous. One is the spread of television at a time when English has become, whether we like it or not, an indisputable part of our daily lives. Few people ever heard or saw president Rhee Syng-man making a speech before a joint session of Congress in the United States. We did not much care if president Park Chung-hee or others spoke English. Television and the demands of our time are the two principal reasons that knowing of the president and his English have been placed in the spotlight.

     Knowing, he president's advanced age and his insignificant educational background, people would not be very surprised, if he could not speak English. Among our presidents, Kim Dae-jung is the one who should be least expected to speak it. He did not go to university. The local commercial high school he attended could not have given him the opportunity or motivation to learn it. And the rough and tumultuous life and career he has led as an ambitious political leader and freedom-fighter would not have allowed him enough time and the proper atmosphere to tackle a foreign language. By all accounts, the plain fact that Kim Dae-jung speaks English, like the fact that he has become president, is a marvel.

     We all know that it takes a long time, much effort, continuous practice, and some inborn verbal intelligence, to become somewhat fluent in a foreign language. And it is a lifelong enterprise for any man to become good at it. There is no easy route to mastering it. Frankly, I cannot say whether Kim Dae-jung's English is good, but I can certainly say that his English is good enough for him and for his job. I cannot help but express admiration for his early recognition of the necessity of learning the language, his will to learn it against all the odds, his love and passion for it, and more than anything else, the courage he has shown in speaking it freely.

     We cannot overlook or underestimate the importance of English to the presidents of this country since Korea achieved its independence from Japan after World War II. During the Korean War, from the moment of its outbreak to the signing of the armistice agreement, president Rhee Syng-man and his fluent English played a vital role in the execution of the war and the establishment of a good relationship with the United States. Imagine, If Rhee had been obliged to call General Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo through an interpreter when North Korea launched a surprise attack on June 25, 1950. If president Park Chung-hee could have spoken some English, he might have formed a friendly view of and favorable attitude toward the United states, and consequently maintained a far better relationship with it during his administration. President Kim Dae-jung's love of English can be construed as a love and respect for the ideas and ideals of the English-speaking people of the world.

     Strictly speaking, the head of a state does not necessarily need to speak a foreign language in order to do his job successfully. Diplomatic protocol does not demand it. As Bill Clinton spoke in English before our National Assembly, so Kim Dae-jung had no reason or obligation to make his speech in English before the American Senate and Congress. Being able to speak English is definitely a great advantage, but there should be some discretion in the use of it, especially if one is a public person, let alone the head of a sovereign state. During his recent visit to the United States President Kim Dae-jung let the World know in no uncertain terms that he can speak English. I am glad and much relieved to think that Mr. Clinton and his wife, if they come to Seoul again and have breakfast with their Korean counterparts, the President's English will help break the awkward silence of the breakfast table, the only place where interpreters cannot intrude.
                                                                                                        (April 23, 1999)