'Democracy Waving the Taegeukgi'... Lee Jae-myung Seeks Rebound Through 'Pro-Japan Diplomacy'

Government Offensive Over Forced Labor and Dokdo Issues
Strategy Emphasizing Anti-Japanese Sentiment and Livelihood

The Democratic Party of Korea has been criticizing the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's diplomacy with Japan day after day, engaging in 'Taegukgi marketing.' This is interpreted as an attempt to highlight the administration's failures and emphasize livelihood issues to boost approval ratings. It is also reported that Lee Jae-myung, the party leader who is deeply interested in issues such as forced labor and Dokdo, strongly influenced this approach.

On the 23rd, Democratic Party lawmakers attending the party meeting and plenary session entered the meeting room each wearing a Taegukgi badge on their chest. During the morning policy coordination meeting and party meeting, a banner with the phrase "You cannot buy the future by selling history" and the Taegukgi pattern was displayed behind them as the meetings proceeded.

Following President Yoon Seok-yeol's recent Korea-Japan summit, controversies arose over the third-party compensation proposal for forced labor companies, as well as issues related to comfort women and Dokdo. The Democratic Party has been criticizing these and using the 'Taegukgi performance' as a political offensive. At the highest council meeting the day before, a large Taegukgi was hung behind the meeting room, and the top council members, including Lee, wore Taegukgi badges on their chests during the meeting. At the party meeting on the 16th, lawmakers wore Taegukgi badges and even waved the Taegukgi themselves.

The day before, Lee held a 'Taegukgi Hanging Campaign to Condemn Submissive Diplomacy toward Japan' event in front of the National Assembly and personally performed the act of attaching a Taegukgi to his vehicle. Lee said, "Let us take the Taegukgi back into our hands, display it in every household and on our cars, and show the nation that our country is not a submissive entity dragged by Japan but a proud, independent sovereign nation."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding up a placard at the Taegeukgi Flag Raising Campaign event condemning submissive diplomacy toward Japan, held in front of the National Assembly main building on the 22nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Taegukgi has been used as a symbol of the hardline conservative faction around the time of former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment in 2017, but the Democratic Party has now taken up the Taegukgi to criticize what they call 'submissive diplomacy.' Because of this, on the 20th, at the full meeting of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, ruling and opposition lawmakers held different Taegukgi placards and engaged in a propaganda battle.

Lee especially emphasized the Dokdo issue. On the 21st, he proposed a bill to designate Dokdo Day (October 25) as a legal commemorative day. The Democratic Party is also reportedly considering a visit to Dokdo as part of Lee's listening tour schedule. A representative from Lee's side said, "Lee has considered the Dokdo issue important since his time as governor of Gyeonggi Province," adding, "Consistently sending messages regarding the Japanese forced labor compensation issue is part of this effort."

This aligns with the Democratic Party's strategy of positioning itself as a 'livelihood party.' It is also interpreted as an attempt to stimulate anti-Japanese sentiment through the Japan diplomacy issue and to divert attention from Lee's judicial risks. In fact, after the Korea-Japan summit on the 16th, President Yoon's approval ratings have been on a continuous decline, while the Democratic Party's support rate has shown signs of rebound.

According to a survey conducted by Realmeter commissioned by Media Tribune from the 13th to the 17th, targeting 2,505 voters aged 18 and over nationwide (sampling error 95%, confidence level ±2.0 percentage points, 97% mobile, 3% landline), positive evaluations of President Yoon's administration fell by 2.1 percentage points from the previous week to 36.8%. Party support ratings showed the People Power Party dropping 4.5 percentage points to 37.0%, while the Democratic Party rose 3.8 percentage points to 46.4%. For more details, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.