In the 16th century, when the Holy Roman Empire invaded the Vatican, most soldiers guarding the Pope fled, but the Swiss Guard remained to fight the invading forces and died. Since then, the Vatican has only selected Swiss nationals as papal guards. During the French Revolution, 786 Swiss mercenaries tasked with protecting King Louis XVI died defending the palace. Though the king urged them to escape, the Swiss mercenaries refused, saying, “If we break our security contract, our descendants will lose their jobs.” The Lion Monument of the Dying Lion in Lucerne, Switzerland, commemorates their sacrifice.

▶Swiss mercenaries are called Reisläufer, meaning “those who go to war.” The term reflects the Swiss identity of valuing future credibility over immediate gain. It also embodies the desperate survival struggle of the people of the barren alpine nation. Even today, with a per capita income of 100,000 dollars, Swiss citizens compete fiercely domestically. Laziness and dependency are seen as sins that regress the nation. Psychologist Karl Jung described the Swiss way of life as “a state of chronic low-intensity warfare.”

▶Switzerland is a nation of referendums. Since the establishment of the federal state in 1848, over 670 issues have been put to public vote. The reason direct democracy is possible in a country with a population exceeding 8 million is the Swiss people’s high civic consciousness. When voting, Swiss citizens do not think about “what is immediately advantageous to me,” but rather “the future of Switzerland and its descendants” before going to the polls.

▶In a referendum held on the 30th, Swiss citizens rejected with 78% opposition a bill proposing a 50% inheritance tax on individuals with assets exceeding 50 million Swiss francs (91.4 billion Korean won). Though the bill would have increased annual tax revenue by 10 trillion won, voters feared that capital flight by the wealthy could lead to greater national wealth loss. Such concerns are typically raised by experts, but in Switzerland, ordinary citizens voice them. In many other countries, the referendum result might have been, “Let’s share the rich’s money with the common people,” but Swiss citizens differed.

▶A few years ago, Swiss citizens rejected proposals for a monthly basic income of 3 million won and a minimum wage increase through referendums. Conversely, they passed bills for next-generation growth engines, such as embryonic stem cell research for treating incurable diseases. When asked, “What are Swiss people like?” a Swiss acquaintance reportedly replied, “We are introverted but have a strong sense of responsibility, are not impulsive, and have a high level of education.” Political populism that ruins a nation does not work when the people are awake.

Illustration by Rhee Choul-won

· This article has been translated by Upstage Solar AI.

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Swiss Citizens: Future Credibility Over Immediate Gain