Candidates Jump on Image-Making Bandwagon > 영어토론방

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On June 28, 2006, in the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly lifted a little boy’s shirt and kissed his stomach. A few days later, he said it was a just a spontaneous gesture of affection, like stroking a kitten, but his move prompted many jokes. He also chatted on the Internet with teenagers from all over the world, humorously talking about his first sexual experience. Some say that Putin’s behavior was part of a calculated course of action to overturn his reputation for being a cold fish.

Putin is not the only one who puts energy into image making. Lee Myung-bak, former Seoul mayor and a strong presidential candidate, wears dark glasses, a trademark of the late President Park Chung-hee, circled, who has the reputation of developing the nation's economy from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War. / Korea Times File

Former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye, who is vying with Lee for the GNP’s ticket to run in the Dec. 19 presidential election, also frequently tells her dramatic life story.
Park, the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, lost her parents, who were both assassinated, in her 20s. With traces of the late president apparent in her face and a hairstyle like her mother’s, she provokes nostalgia.

In South Korea, the media have affected the results of elections, as well.
The Uri Party, the party of incumbent President Roh Moo-hyun, aired television advertisements in which Roh shed tears. Political pundits said that his tears touched people’s hearts and resulted in his electoral victory.

But unlike entertainers, politicians have to build images that are somewhat based on the policies they are likely to carry out, Lee Myoung-jin, a professor of sociology at Kookmin University in Seoul, said.
``For that reason, it is difficult to tell which is a political image and which is an image associated with policies,’’ Lee told The Korea Times.
Political image making is related to the spread of the mass media, especially the increasing presence of commercials, the professor said. But Lee said he thinks it’s not a positive trend.

``During the Seoul mayoral election last year, voters shifted their votes from former Justice Minister Kang Geum-sil to Oh Se-hoon, a lawyer,’’ Lee said. ``Oh announced his bid later than Kang but captivated voters with an image of reform and change.”
``Politics should be based on policies,’’ Lee said. ``But politicians seem to be jumping on the bandwagon of image making.’’

Question
1. Do you agree the idea that political image making might give strong effect on result of election?
And what kind of image do you prefer?
2. Korean politicians, Including Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye want to show their active image.
Why is a political image for being young and energetic in fashion?
3. What effects does the mess media make to improve political image?
Do you think all candidates have fair chance to advertise their own image in mess media?
4. It is difficult to tell which one is honest image and which one is fabricated.
How can you recognize it?
 
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