[Reading K-Politics Through Metaphors] The 'Easy Clarity' of SNS Politics

Why Does 'Simple Clarity' Beat 'Complex Rightness'?

Editor's NotePoliticians, masters of oratory, often use ‘metaphors’ in their speech. They engage in politics with eloquent rhetoric comparable to poets or skilled speakers. Using these rhetorical devices as a starting point, we aim to grasp how real-world politics?likened to a ‘living organism’?flows. In the process, we plan a series revealing the inner workings and bare realities of K-politics.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 2nd, the amended bill on the Transportation, Energy, and Environment Tax Act (alternative) was passed at the plenary session held at the National Assembly with 197 votes in favor, 16 against, and 35 abstentions out of 248 members present. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] “Clarity is easy. What is right is complicated. The problem is that ‘complex rightness’ always loses to ‘easy clarity.’”

A Democratic Party lawmaker lamented this during a lunch with reporters, saying, “Politics dominated by social networking services (SNS) is ruining real politics.” This refers to posting on Facebook to target, attack, and directly strike opposing camps. As this style of politics becomes mainstream, the essence of politics is being undermined.

The actual agendas that politics must address are complex. It is difficult to implement the three major reforms?pensions, labor, education?as well as to restore livelihoods and the economy. Limited resources must be allocated amid competing values. Conflicts must be mediated. Interests are sharply divided. It resembles solving a multidimensional equation. However, with the rise of SNS politics, it is not politics that ‘rightly solves complex issues’ but rather ‘easy clarity’ that is highlighted.

This criticism has often been directed at party leader Lee Jun-seok and former emergency committee member Park Ji-hyun. They frequently criticized specific politicians and the entire party through SNS messages. Rather than ‘face-to-face politics’ involving direct meetings, coordination, compromise, and finding middle ground, they mainly employed ‘SNS politics’ that attacks verbally. There is also a counterargument. Given the characteristics of young politicians, with weak factions and limited parliamentary support bases, they have no choice but to use SNS as a megaphone to amplify their voices and presence.

There are various opinions and evaluations regarding SNS politics. Whether ‘comments represent public sentiment’ is itself a subject of debate. A Democratic Party insider’s metaphor describing SNS comments as ‘merely waves on the surface of public sentiment’ has been widely cited. Because they are surface waves, they cannot read the deep, underlying public sentiment. Leading party candidate Lee Jae-myung disagrees. It is well known that he reads public sentiment by observing SNS comments.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Cho Seung-rae, Chairman of the Education Committee Subcommittee, is presiding over the Education Committee Bill Review Subcommittee held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. On this day, the subcommittee discussed the "Kindergarten 3 Acts," which strengthen the public nature of private kindergartens. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

What is clear is that SNS politics is changing not only the form but also the content. A Democratic Party aide said that few lawmakers properly prepare remarks for standing committee bill subcommittees. These subcommittees are closed sessions, and minutes are posted later. They rarely become news. On the other hand, ‘clearly confrontational’ posts on SNS are easily reported. Lawmakers pay more attention to SNS posts that catch the eyes of enthusiastic supporters than to legislative activities.

A Democratic Party emergency committee member said that politicians’ obsession with SNS politics has caused the spirit of one-on-one coordination, consensus, and dialogue to disappear. Issues that could be quickly resolved through persuasion within the party are instead handled by posting targeted messages on SNS, leading to the disappearance of ‘on-site politics.’

This tendency is likely to deepen during the party convention period. To gain many party members’ votes and compete for nominations within the party, politicians inevitably become ‘radicals’ or ‘partisans’ through SNS.

Of course, the media also bears significant responsibility. As a political reporter myself, I deeply feel this responsibility. The media’s practice of ‘quote journalism’ that simply transcribes SNS, ‘live coverage of verbal fights,’ ‘reposting of harsh remarks,’ ‘coverage centered on verbal disputes,’ and ‘biased reporting on power struggles’ clearly exacerbates this phenomenon.

At this point, it seems necessary to reconsider the definition of ‘politics.’ Some define politics as ‘finding the best alternative among various values where right and wrong are not clear,’ or ‘drawing an unfinished picture by seeking countless questions and answers.’ If politics is to be solved by complex rightness rather than easy clarity.

Eunju Lee, Emergency Response Committee Chair of the Justice Party, is delivering a representative speech for non-negotiating groups at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 25th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@