[The Editors' Verdict] Alike Yet Different: The Muddy U.S. Presidential Race and Korean General Election

Despite Offensive Language and Hate from Opponents
Political Satire Comedy Is Possible in the United States

The upcoming U.S. presidential election in November is attracting attention for various reasons. It is a 'rematch' between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, marking the first time in 112 years that a current and former U.S. president face off in a presidential election. At the same time, it is an unprecedentedly ‘unpopular election’ marked by extreme animosity, hatred toward opposing candidates, and various risks.

Former President Trump's controversial remarks are nothing new. He has not hesitated to make dangerous statements such as, "If I lose the election, the country will be a 'blood bath,'" or "Immigrants are not human."

He also frequently posts violent content online, causing controversy. Recently, he posted a video on his social networking service (SNS) platform, Truth Social, showing a pickup truck driving on the road. On the rear of the vehicle was an image that appeared to depict President Biden tied up and lying sideways, evoking a kidnapping scenario. Additionally, Trump criticized the judge presiding over his sexual misconduct trial on SNS, labeling the judge and even his daughter as 'Trump haters' and revealing their real names. This is a so-called ‘targeting’ tactic that incites attacks from his supporters.

Of course, the Biden camp also engages in ridicule and disparagement, albeit to a different degree. According to the U.S. political media outlet The Hill, the Biden campaign recently sent an email to supporters calling Trump "broke Trump in the basement," attaching the word 'broke'?meaning bankrupt?before Trump's name. They also said, "Criminals and conspiracy theorists are running Trump's campaign." This mocked Trump’s situation, where he faces four criminal indictments related to attempts to overturn the election, allegations of asset inflation fraud, and civil lawsuits over defamation, resulting in astronomical legal costs.

President Biden is 81 years old this year, making him the oldest president in U.S. history. If he wins this election, he will be 87 by the end of his second term. Former President Trump is also elderly at 77. Local U.S. media predict this year’s presidential election will be a competition between two historically unpopular candidates. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) harshly commented, "America has never had to choose between two candidates this old and completely unlikable."

South Korea’s political situation, with less than 10 days left until the general election, is similar. As the election heats up, harsh remarks such as "fucking," "trash," and "worse than beasts" are being hurled daily at opposing camps. Concerns about the backlash from hatred and conflict are growing.

However, the U.S. differs from us in one way: political satire comedy mocking not only President Biden but also former President Trump is common. Stephen Colbert, host of CBS’s flagship talk show The Late Show, joked, "When Biden entered the stage, supporters shouted ‘Four more years!’ But it takes four years to walk from the entrance to the podium, right?"?a satire on Biden’s old age.

Also, during the 96th Academy Awards (Oscars) ceremony held last month, former President Trump posted on SNS a harsh critique of host Jimmy Kimmel, asking, "Has there ever been a worse host at the Oscars than him?" Kimmel responded directly, "Thank you. I’m surprised you’re still awake. Isn’t it past your bedtime for prison?" The audience responded with applause and laughter. The boldness of political satire in the U.S. is something unimaginable in South Korea’s current political climate, making it enviable.