Cutthroat election looms
Lack of candidate diversity, policy vision mar prospects
In Korea, political engagement is a vibrant facet of society, where protest rallies are often compared to a cherished national pastime. Since the milestone of direct presidential elections in 1987, borne from the fervor of the democracy movement, events like the impending April 10 general elections possess the power to ignite a collective fervor across the nation.
Thus far, a significant portion of this energy has been directed towards the fiercely competitive process of nominating candidates. As of Monday, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have completed the nomination process for 80 percent of the 254 contested seats in the upcoming general elections. Ruling PPP interim leader Han Donghoon, a former justice minister, and the main opposition DPK leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung have vowed to field candidates through systematic and fair nominations. The current progress reveals that nominees aligning with the ideological leanings and agendas of the respective party leaderships have predominantly secured nominations.
The ongoing selection process highlights a distinct trend within the PPP, where 84 percent of incumbents deemed supportive of President Yoon Suk Yeol have secured candidacy as of Monday. Similarly, within the DPK, 95 percent of candidates affiliated with Lee and those aligned with the party’s leadership have received candidacy, according to a vernacular daily. Both parties have emphasized that portions of their incumbents have been replaced with fresh candidates. Nevertheless, it is evident that the realignment within the parties mirrors the directives of their respective leaderships. Female candidates make up about 10 percent, less than the 30 percent pledged by the PPP and DPK. The intense competition for candidacy has stirred profound unrest, particularly within the DPK, prompting speculation about a potential regression in party politics. Anticipating the emergence of new political paradigms and fresh policy initiatives from candidates largely determined by factional allegiances appears increasingly futile.
At the moment, a slew of populist policies are being thrown around. For his part, the president is touting infrastructure, land and regional development pledges through his on-site policy meetings that are looking a lot like a PPP campaign tour. The DPK has taken flak by tapping progressive candidates in proportional representation seats, raising questions about the identity of its party platform.
The April 10 general elections offer a significant opportunity for more than just a midterm evaluation of the Yoon administration and the DPK as the majority party in the 21st National Assembly. Korea, like numerous other nations, faces the formidable challenges of climate change, a turbulent world order, the polarization of economic inequality and the evolution of technology. However, the rapid decline in birthrate and the aging population present pressing issues that require a political vision focused on solutions rather than negative castigation aimed at rival parties.
Efforts should be made to infuse new and diverse political faces in the 46 proportional representative seats up for grabs in the days ahead. Or we should be prepared for some challenges. The Reform Party and the Saemirae Party, led respectively by former PPP chief Lee Jun-seok and former DPK chief Lee Nak-yon, have thus far struggled to gain significant traction within the political landscape.
Meanwhile, the Korea Innovation Party (KIP), spearheaded by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, has been unexpectedly gathering voter support, especially within the proportional representation system. The KIP pledges to end what it describes as the “dictatorship of prosecutorial power.” According to a Gallup Korea poll conducted from March 5 to 7, 15 percent of respondents expressed their support for the KIP when asked about their preference for a proportional representation party. This placed the KIP as the third-largest party in terms of support ratings, trailing behind the 25 percent and 37 percent garnered by satellite parties of the DPK and PPP, respectively.
Some argue that a prevailing distrust of the government may have spurred active political participation in Korea. Conversely, Koreans hold dear the notion of each individual possessing an equal and respected political voice, one that should transcend the polarized landscape of society. With time running short, parties must redirect their focus towards policies and issues, so that voters don’t feel like they are wasting their votes.