"'Dissolve the Opposing Party' 'Oppose the Special Prosecutor'... Online Public Forum Turned into Fandom Battlefield"

Fan Cafes Urge Support
Concerns Over Petition System's Fundamental Undermining

The online public forum has effectively degenerated into a tool where political fan clubs gather to engage in partisan conflicts. While confrontations between staunch supporter groups continue daily, petitions related to public welfare are being overshadowed, raising concerns that the essence of the online petition system is being undermined.

On the 29th of last month, a petition urging the dissolution of the People Power Party was submitted to the National Assembly's Public Consent Petition. / Source=National Assembly Public Consent Petition

On the 30th of last month, a notice calling for a petition to dissolve the People Power Party was posted on the fan cafe of former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, called 'Jaemyungine Maeul.' The reason cited was that defending allegations such as the 'request to cancel prosecution' during the People Power Party's leadership election process and various suspicions surrounding First Lady Kim Keon-hee constitutes a violation of the Constitution. The fandom of former leader Lee immediately agreed to the petition and posted comments certifying their support. According to the National Assembly's public petition site, as of 9 a.m. on the 1st, approximately 22,700 people had agreed to the petition to dissolve the People Power Party.

On the fan cafe of People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, called 'WithHoonie,' opposition arose against the so-called 'Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act,' which investigates allegations of ghostwriting academic papers by Han's children. Alongside a notice urging opposition to the Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act, WithHoonie created a separate bulletin board that directly links to the National Assembly's legislative notice site where opposing opinions can be submitted. As of that day, the number of opinions on the Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act reached 5,280, overwhelmingly more than other bills. Following this, the bill with the next highest number of opinions was the Road Traffic Act amendment, sponsored by People Power Party lawmaker Park Seong-hoon, with 3,396 opinions. Ironically, Park's bill is also called the 'Kim Ho-joong Prevention Act,' and the singer Kim Ho-joong's fandom flocked to submit opposing opinions on the bill.

Political Fan Cafes Urge "Please Support Petitions"... Public Welfare Petitions Take a Backseat

Supporters of Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, posted opinions opposing the so-called 'Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act' on the National Assembly Legislative Notice website. /Source=National Assembly Legislative Notice

Since the 22nd National Assembly, online public petitions where citizens can express their opinions have effectively become channels for fandoms to attack each other. A petition to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol surpassed one million supporters on the 3rd of last month, led by opposition supporters. In response, the opposing camp also mobilized. Petitions opposing the impeachment of President Yoon, requesting the dismissal of National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Jeong Cheong-rae, and calling for the dissolution of the Democratic Party all exceeded 50,000 supporters. When a petition on the National Assembly public petition site exceeds 50,000 supporters, the relevant standing committee can review it.

Fandoms urged support for petitions to win political battles. Lee Jae-myung's fandom posted updates continuously checking how many supporters remained until the impeachment petition against President Yoon reached one million. A site broadcasting the number of petition supporters in real time also appeared. In this process, dissent was not tolerated. The operator of WithHoonie posted on the 28th of last month, "The Han Dong-hoon fan cafe firmly opposes the 'Han Dong-hoon Special Prosecutor Act,'" adding, "'It's better to accept it' and other half-hearted advice are declined. Do not disguise such posts as freedom of expression."

On the 4th of last month, a petition was posted on the National Assembly's Public Consent Petition platform requesting that the bill to improve the treatment of violent crime victims be designated as a fast-track agenda item. The petition will expire on the 3rd. /Source=National Assembly Public Consent Petition

While partisan conflicts rage in online public petitions, petitions related to public welfare are being pushed aside. A petition requesting that a bill to improve the treatment of violent crime victims be designated as a fast-track agenda will expire on the 3rd, but it has only about 2,900 supporters. The petitioner expressed frustration, saying, "While people fight over victims of issues like the Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act, they neglect other victims," and appealed, "Please ensure that many crime victims are not left in blind spots." A petition demanding strict punishment for abuse and sexual harassment of the elderly and disabled in nursing homes has only 3,500 supporters and will also expire on the 10th.

Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy said, "The essence of petitions is for those who find it difficult to raise their voices to highlight social issues, but it has degenerated into a weapon to attack the opposing camp," adding, "The purpose of petitions calling for the dissolution of the opposing party is ultimately revenge. It does not help resolve the political situation that is being driven to extremes."

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