[Insight & Opinion] The Unifying Energy Shown at the World Cup... Must Lead to Bipartisan Cooperation

[Asia Economy] The year 2022 is drawing to a close. It is a time to reflect on what was lacking and to make new resolutions. Above all, the political sphere needs to engage in self-reflection. On June 2, about a month after the new government took office, President Yoon held a dinner with the former coach Guus Hiddink and the players from the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup team to mark the 20th anniversary. At that gathering, President Yoon emphasized national unity, saying, "When our politics descend into division, many say that if we achieve national unity like in 2002, there is nothing South Korea cannot do. Isn't that right?"

Seven months later, is ‘national unity’ truly being realized? Public opinion regarding the president’s governance remains cold. The public sentiment toward the opposition party, which lacks alternative proposals as a partner in governance, is equally chilly. This appears to be because the opposition party is trapped in a protective frame around ‘Lee Jae-myung’s judicial risks’ and has fallen into the quagmire of ‘veto politics.’

This year also had many dark moments. As starkly revealed in the recent Cargo Truckers Solidarity strike, the logic of statutory law and prosecutorial control, which emphasize orders and punishment over dialogue and compromise, took precedence. Consequently, voices criticizing the disappearance of politics and the absence of government erupted. The desperate ‘ruling and opposition party cooperation’ to stop polarized factional politics and partisan strife during the golden time failed to function until the end of the year.

While the political sphere ignored cooperation and fought with confrontation and division, the Itaewon tragedy occurred, claiming 159 lives. A political sphere with common sense that empathizes with sorrow should have naturally stopped political strife and devoted its utmost efforts to managing the aftermath, preventing recurrence, and restoring daily life. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Despite agreeing to conduct a state audit, they wasted precious time embroiled in blame games far from resolving the issues.

However, the presence of much darkness does not mean there was no light. The revival of the Red Devils’ street cheering during the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the miraculous advancement of our national soccer team to the round of 16 gave courage to the people.

Citizens were moved and gained confidence watching the fighting spirit and victory of the Taegeuk Warriors, who achieved a miraculous comeback win against Portugal to advance to the round of 16. Is there anything more positive and unifying for Korean society, which suffers from conflict and division, than the World Cup team’s performance? At a time when the entire nation is immersed in sorrow over the Itaewon tragedy, the victory message sent by the Taegeuk Warriors, who are of the same generation as the victims, is invaluable.

The success of this World Cup was, above all, an opportunity to revive the innovative leadership and unified street cheering born in the 2002 World Cup. Former coach Hiddink’s ‘innovative leadership’ of ‘excluding school and regional ties and selecting based on ability’ continued with coach Paulo Bento’s ‘build-up football.’ The ‘build-up approach’ prompted a reassessment of the so-called ‘kick and rush’ style, which had been a weakness in our soccer.

Hiddink went beyond the tangible achievement of reaching the semifinals and presented a ‘methodology of innovation’ that could allow Korea to advance globally. From breaking the seniority hierarchy, fair and rational competition based on ability, to establishing a specialized and divided operational system, the issues raised by Hiddink transcended the soccer world’s ailments and boldly called for innovation against the old customs and entrenched practices long held in Korean politics.

Since the energy of 2002 was revived in this World Cup after 20 years, it is natural that the energy of innovation and unity should lead to bipartisan cooperation. In the new year, I hope the political sphere succeeds in cooperation, giving hope to the people’s lives, restoring livelihoods, and reviving national unity.

Chae Jin-won, Professor at Kyung Hee University Public Governance Research Institute

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