[Inside Chodong] Politics of Hatred Exposed by the April 5th By-Elections

After Dominant Parties Withdrew Candidates, Voters' True Sentiments Revealed
Politics of Hostility Spreads Into Everyday Life
"Even the Smallest Reform of the Electoral System Is Needed"

It was a terrifying hostility. The April 5th by-elections revealed the true face of politics once again. Our politics operated on feelings of hatred and animosity toward the opposing side.

In the Jeonju-eul National Assembly by-election held on the 5th of this month, Kim Kyung-min, the People Power Party candidate, recorded an 8.0% vote share, placing 5th out of 6 candidates. This was a shocking result for the ruling People Power Party. The Democratic Party, a long-established force in this region, did not field a candidate, raising faint hopes. However, the outcome was disastrous.

The same day, the Changnyeong County Governor election in Gyeongnam was similar. Although it was a by-election, the turnout was high at 57.5%. Democratic Party candidate Sung Ki-wook received 10.8% of the vote (3,217 votes), placing 5th out of 7 candidates. The People Power Party did not nominate a candidate, taking responsibility for the by-election in this area as well. With five independent candidates formerly affiliated with the People Power Party running, the Democratic Party hoped to benefit from this. However, there was no upset.

The political circles viewed the election results as evidence that regional sentiments remain deeply entrenched. However, the fact that the dominant parties in Yeongnam and Honam both refrained from nominating candidates, yet the opposing parties failed to gain any traction, cannot be explained by regionalism alone. Other emotions and sentiments influenced voter behavior. Voters clearly expressed hostility, saying things like "I'd rather not vote than vote for that party," and "If that party wins, I'll leave this area."

In reality, political views now dominate everyday life. Independent lawmaker Yang Jeong-suk lamented at the National Assembly plenary committee on election system reform held on the 11th, saying, "Now, people with different political orientations, such as progressives and conservatives, refuse even to become in-laws," and "The negative effects of political polarization have spread into non-political areas." Complaints that people no longer want to meet or talk with family or friends who hold different political views are no longer surprising. A public opinion poll conducted early this year showed that two-thirds of the entire population agreed with the statement, "People with different political views care more about their own interests than the national interest." When political views differ, one is not even treated as a 'fellow citizen.'

The cause is politics. One unwritten rule of politics is that "while gaining support is difficult, inciting hatred toward the opponent is easy." Demonizing the opponent is both an attack and a strategic political act to rally one’s own supporters. In such a political environment, election strategies naturally aim to make voters withdraw support from the opposing party. The term vetocracy, coined by Francis Fukuyama out of concern for American politics, has now become a term describing our politics. It means extreme factional politics that reject all policies and claims of the opposing faction.

Despite skepticism, some political circles are pushing forward discussions on election system reform for this reason. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties who have directly experienced the extremes of political polarization have concluded that proper cooperation cannot function under such extreme factional politics. A senior ruling party lawmaker said, "We must change politics even now. Politics is holding back national development, disrupting state affairs, dividing the people, destroying the community, eroding and wasting national power. Even we politicians working on the ground waste time and life."

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