[Insight & Opinion] The Misconception of the ‘Eomgeunjin’ Conservative Regime

There is tension between the president and employees at a company. However, the person employees inwardly dislike more than the president is their department’s ‘Eomgeunjin (strict, stern, serious)’ manager. This type of manager is authoritarian. They have a strong sense of ownership as if the company belongs to them. They subtly squeeze the labor of their subordinates and focus on cost-cutting.

In the recent general election, the conservative regime suffered a crushing defeat. What working voters associate with the conservative regime is an image similar to the ‘Eomgeunjin manager.’ The main reason for the defeat lies in this ‘somehow unpleasant and unlikable’ impression.

Korea still retains Confucian culture, but at the same time, rejection of Eomgeunjin is in full swing. It started with K-pop and TV entertainment programs and is spreading. Even the conservative newspaper Chosun Ilbo ran a headline saying, “Eomgeunjin is gone... a world where conglomerates are called ‘hyung’ (older brother).” When I worked at a newspaper, orders to “remove ‘solemnism’ from articles” were often given at meetings chaired by the bureau chief.

Anti-solemnism is a socio-cultural trend, but only the conservative regime remains stuck in solemnism. Therefore, they obsess over large-scale national land development and grand narratives. Their pledges are based on construction projects such as extending the metropolitan area railroad (GTX), revitalizing reconstruction and redevelopment, building new towns, establishing semiconductor complexes, and relocating the National Assembly. The ruling party lost in most regions where these development promises were made.

What actually moved voters were ‘small and emotional things.’ The ruling party maintained the disfavor of women voters in their 20s and 30s by pledging to rename the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to the ‘Ministry of Population.’ They pushed for something the opposing group (women) strongly disliked while asking for their votes, so there was no chance of gaining support. Women overwhelmingly shunned the ruling party in this election.

The issue with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family costs nothing and requires no action. What harm is there if the name of the population ministry includes ‘women’? The ruling party was absorbed in the grand narrative that ‘structural gender discrimination does not exist,’ showing an attitude of trying to teach and dominate female citizens. They appeared indifferent to women’s concerns about the glass ceiling and gave the impression of isolating women.

The progressives maintain a conflict framework between vested interests and commoners. Conservatism’s strength was flexibility. No one can solve social polarization. Flexibility is not ‘problem-solving ability.’ It is the ability to ‘roughly get by by saying it’s good to raise workers’ wages a bit.’ The current conservative regime has lost flexibility. If something seems wrong, they should flexibly drop the plan to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. That could be the starting point for the conservative regime to shed the Eomgeunjin image.

When the opposition party proposed giving 250,000 won to every citizen, ruling party economic experts opposed it with the usual ‘populism’ and ‘national debt’ arguments. This ruling party attitude resembled a manager nagging subordinates to save costs. If the ruling party were desperate, would 4 trillion won be a big deal? People have emotions, vulnerability, flexibility, and humanity that cannot be explained by reason.

Within the ruling party, there are calls such as “Make moderate-leaning Kim Jaeseop party leader,” “appoint an opposition figure as prime minister,” and “hold summit talks with the opposition leader.” These solutions are also grand narratives. Voters did not judge conservatism itself. The conservative regime can maintain its conservative stance as before. The confrontation between conservatives and progressives will not be resolved overnight.

The bestseller One Thing says, “Simplicity wins over complexity.” The conservative regime must find clues in communication. The leadership, including the president, should hold press conferences frequently and accept all questions. They must realize that there is no mercy for mistakes and ensure their words and actions do not violate common sense. They need to gain momentum for governance through direct communication with the public. Above all, they must make people feel they are on the same side. Subordinates do not think of an Eomgeunjin manager as an ally.

Heo Manseop, Professor at Gangneung-Wonju National University