[Opinion] Candid Reflections on the Presidential Election

The election is over, but there is still a sense of emptiness. It is not that people are rejecting the election results, but there seems to be little genuine congratulations or consolation. Attention should be paid to the prolonged silence of numerous voters. This phenomenon is certainly a subject for social science research in the history of Korean politics.

President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol may face a major setback if he interprets his victory in a self-serving way. Since the path from Prosecutor General → Candidate → President-elect is unnatural, I believe much effort is needed to establish the stature of the president. Regarding the relocation of the office to Yongsan, despite clear physical and fundamental limitations, there seems to be no explanation or persuasion about what is being overcome.

This may be urgent advice, but it is necessary to reflect on the roar for regime change directed at President Moon Jae-in during the candidacy period from a reversed perspective. As a president criticized for double standards and lack of communication, who did not practice cooperative politics and whose government failed in politics and policy, and who was blamed for stealing the dreams of the 2030 generation, are alternatives prepared? The current silence is heavier than the post-election enthusiasm and jeers. Historically, the expectations for elected presidents have usually exceeded 70%, but the expectation for Yoon Seok-yeol’s political ability barely surpasses 50%. This itself means that all citizens, whether supporters or opponents, are watching closely.

Although Lee Jae-myung was legally defeated, politically it may be a new beginning. He is rising as a politician who has formed a fandom for the first time since DJ and Roh Moo-hyun. He must succeed in transforming from a candidate to a ‘political leader.’ If he regards this election defeat simply as a matter of fate and pursues only political comeback, he must realize that the Korean political scene is a place where endless falls are always possible.

He must engrave in himself unlimited devotion and spirit of sacrifice for the Democratic Party government and its supporters. If it is for their sake, he should be ready to step forward regardless of time and place. Although a loser, as a true patriot, he must become the center of national unity politics so that ‘useful Korean politics’ can be revived. Unity politics holds the political power to protect democracy, peace, and people’s livelihood. As a political leader, he must be able to lead so that supporters and political comrades who share concrete political plans always keep this in mind.

Nevertheless, as the leader of the opposition party, realistic cold-headedness is necessary. While leading the Democratic Party, he must not take the lead in confrontational politics and wasteful political strife, thereby receiving unnecessary wounds, and must manage the party to prevent division. Above all, he must survive the potentially ruthless politics that President-elect Yoon’s side might employ. It is necessary to learn from the political scenes during President Roh Tae-woo’s era when former President Kim Dae-jung overcame the harsh path of political retaliation and eventually achieved regime change.

The operation of democratic values and systems is an absolute condition for becoming an advanced country. I ask myself whether the political system functioned properly as a democratic nation in this presidential election. I hope the day will come soon when Korea benefits from politics, and this election has reaffirmed that all decision-making power belonged to the people and voters, which is my honest reflection on this election.

Park Sang-chul, Professor, Graduate School of Political Studies, Kyonggi University

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.