[COVID-19 Great Transformation] 'New Deal, New National Assembly'... Practicality Over Ideology Reflects Public Sentiment

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] "The world will become one where the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, and biased civic groups wear armbands and gain more power. The forces that once embraced socialism and federal unification will even attempt a constitutional amendment denying liberal democracy."

This was said by then Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, at a press conference in front of Bosingak in Jongno, Seoul, on the day before the general election last month on the 14th. After reading the press statement, he performed a deep bow.

"This is now an achievement of conducting elections, which have become a science, with their own 'Galapagos'-style convictions. There was no ideological coordinate setting within the party. Internal division and conflict were major causes."

This was the general election evaluation given by Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, when he declared his candidacy on the 4th. He likened the United Future Party to isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean. After being elected, he also said in media interviews, "I will gain public support against the overwhelming 180-seat majority with rational and practical leadership based on facts and logic."

Now it is reason and practicality instead of ideology. Until the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, the main election strategy slogan emphasized by the United Future Party was "Judgment on the socialist left-wing Moon Jae-in administration." During on-site election coverage, when meeting conservative voters, many repeated the United Future Party's criticism that "South Korea is collapsing because of a left-wing president."

The Democratic Party of Korea also strongly criticized former United Future Party leader Hwang’s December rally opposing the fast-track bills in the National Assembly alongside the so-called "Taegukgi Unit" as an "extreme right-wing party." At that time, Lee In-young, floor leader of the Democratic Party, sharply said, "The leader of the main opposition party is armed with the extreme right-wing identity of the 'Taegukgi Unit.'"

Back then, they pointed knives at each other with extreme ideological language. But COVID-19 brought dramatic change. As serious threats to public safety and livelihoods approached, ideological language lost its place. Initially, when the ruling party proposed disaster relief payments excluding high-income earners, the United Future Party symbolically raised the stakes by demanding payments to 100% of the people. A political insider said, "Originally, this election had the character of judging the administration, but because of COVID-19, the situation is one of immediate survival threat, so the emphasis had to be on stability," adding, "The opposition party also ended up proposing practical support measures rather than slogans like criticizing the left or impeaching the president."

Floor leader Joo’s attendance at the 40th anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, where he sang the "March for the Beloved," and his participation in the 11th memorial service for the late President Roh Moo-hyun are also interpreted as efforts to shed the image of an ideologically biased party.

Ultimately, practicality is the only way to put out the "fire on the doorstep." Even the Democratic Party, which had previously stoked the flames of constitutional amendment before the general election, now clearly draws the line by saying, "There is no need to exhaust national consensus with constitutional amendment at a time when we must focus on overcoming the national crisis." Considering the April by-elections next year and the ensuing presidential election phase, the possibility of constitutional amendment discussions rising is low. Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan’s emphasis on "humility" and the reminder not to forget the pains of the past Open Democratic Party are also read as calls to prioritize practicality. The Open Democratic Party had pursued four major reform policies including the abolition of the National Security Law, past history law, private school law amendments, and media reform, but failed to achieve proper results.

The most urgent task is the "Green Digital New Deal" being promoted as a COVID-19 countermeasure. During the second supplementary budget discussions for disaster relief payments, the United Future Party insisted on minimizing fiscal burden, causing difficulties. Going forward, the government and ruling party are preparing supplementary budgets through massive deficit bond issuance. The Democratic Party is most concerned about ideological disputes potentially disrupting the New Deal policy.

Of course, once the 21st National Assembly convenes, ideological political strife cannot be ruled out at any time. Above all, if conflicts arise over the scale and method of fiscal input for COVID-19 measures, it could escalate into color-coded political debates.

Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National University’s Department of Political Science and Diplomacy said, "The ruling party is riding the wave of practicality, and the United Future Party also seems to be taking a different approach since floor leader Joo’s election," adding, "Since a challenging future is unfolding, a bipartisan and practical approach is absolutely necessary."

Professor Lee continued, "It is difficult to predict how things will change during next spring’s by-elections and the subsequent presidential election phase. People have been saying 'Hell Joseon' but with the COVID-19 crisis, they feel some relief that at least the national system is functioning. If politics disappoints these expectations, public anger will be enormous," he warned.