[Insight & Opinion] Bulletproof Cartel Politics and the Crisis of Representative Democracy

Mutual Dislike Symbiosis Between Lee Jae-myung and Yoon Seok-youl
Political Parties Have Become Power Cartels, Not Public Institutions

"If an autocrat who does not follow the spirit and norms of democracy emerges, the democracy of the United States, accumulated over more than 230 years, will also be put at risk." This is from the May 16 issue of The Economist, which deals with the vulnerabilities of American democracy created by the rise of Donald Trump. Trump's style of politics, which turned political power games unrelated to truth into the era-defining concept of 'post-truth politics,' has recently resulted in him being found guilty on all 34 charges related to sexual assault. Trump loudly claimed that the verdict was fabricated by corrupt judges and that the real judgment would come in the November presidential election.

After the verdict, it is said that donations from his hardline supporters actually increased. On the other hand, the progressive activist group MoveOn is producing and distributing stickers labeling Trump’s photo with the word 'felon.' Although overall favorability seems to have declined, he is still considered a leading candidate for the next presidential election. This is partly because his competitor, President Joe Biden, also has lackluster support. The coexisting politics of mutual dislike created by the competition between unpopular factions is a reality familiar to us as well. South Korea is a rare country that has succeeded in democratization following rapid industrialization.

Recently, it has also become a culturally notable country with K-pop and the Korean Wave. However, unfortunately, our politics these days are at their worst. Barefaced power struggles devoid of even minimal political legitimacy and ethics are dominating Korean politics. Political parties have become cartel organizations of power and vested interests rather than public parties representing the community. Legislative battles and political offensives over the judicial responsibility of cartel parties overshadow the National Assembly’s legislation for the people’s livelihood.

The sense of crisis over democracy in the U.S. and South Korea unfolds like a parallel theory. Both Trump and Lee Jae-myung are stirring up politics in their respective countries while carrying judicial risks. Both are leading candidates for the next presidential election. On both sides, hardline factions leading exclusive factional politics are backing them.

Trump has the MAGA (Make America Great Again) group and the Freedom Caucus, while Lee Jae-myung has the Gaeddal and the Democratic Party Innovation Council. The mutual dislike symbiosis between Trump-Biden and Lee Jae-myung-Yoon Seok-youl is also very similar. Just as Biden’s unpopularity offsets Trump’s problems, President Yoon’s low approval ratings dilute Lee Jae-myung’s judicial risks and anti-democratic party factionalization.

Lee Jae-myung has been indicted on four cases, including the third-party bribery charge related to the payment of North Korea visit expenses. Additional indictments are also possible. Lee claims that the prosecution’s investigation and indictment are fabricated novels. Even if the charges related to the case are confirmed by the court’s verdict, he refuses to acknowledge them and denies judicial judgment. This mirrors Trump’s response. Compared to the U.S., our situation is more serious. The National Assembly, which should lay the foundation for the rule of law, has instead become a shield for lawbreakers. The remaining three years of the Yoon administration are as bleak as the just-started 22nd National Assembly. There are concerns about the expectations and competence of the lawmakers. Almost all the so-called Daejang-dong lawyers have succeeded in entering the National Assembly and are directly engaging in political defense against judicial risks. The number of lawmakers who have caused public disapproval has also increased. The imperial party organization has no qualms about becoming a protective organization for Lee Jae-myung. One top committee member has even gone so far as to praise Lee as the 'father of the Democratic Party.'

They argue that these are defenses against the persecution of 'too kind' politicians and reform measures, but actions that shake the foundations of representative democracy and the rule of law can never be justified. It is already a denial of their own representative power base.

Kim Man-heum, Former Director of the National Assembly Research Service