[The Editors' Verdict] 'Heuksujeo' US Vice Presidential Candidates Face Off, No Winner or Loser

No Personal Attacks or Insults in TV Debate
"I Was Stupid" "I Was Wrong"
Honestly Admitted Past Controversial Remarks
"I Will Support If Elected Vice President" Warm Ending

The cooking survival variety show Heukbaek Yorisah: Yori Gyegup Jeonjaeng (Heukbaek Yorisah) is making headlines day after day. This program, where the underground master chefs known as 'Heuksujeo' face off against star chefs called 'Baeksujeo,' has ranked number one in the non-English category on Netflix for two consecutive weeks, gaining popularity. In terms of the so-called spoon class theory, Heuksujeo evokes 'Heuksujeo' (dirt spoon), while Baeksujeo suggests the upper group, 'Geumsujeo' (gold spoon). One of the reasons for its popularity among the public is the image of Heuksujeo defeating Baeksujeo, that is, the 'underdog rebellion.' In fact, it has produced several Heuksujeo stars such as 'School Meal Master' Lee Mi-young, 'Manjjitnam' Jo Gwang-hyo, 'Side Dish Chef' Song Ha-seullam, and 'Iron Lunchbox Chef' Lim Tae-hoon.

The 'American Dream,' which means transcending class, is one of the deeply rooted ideologies across American society, culture, and economy. It is based on the belief that anyone in the U.S. can achieve social and economic mobility through sincere effort. Many have been enthusiastic about this term, which suggests that even a Heuksujeo can transform into a Geumsujeo through hard work, and it remains a public romance that anticipates the rebellion of the Heuksujeo.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The U.S. vice presidential candidates' TV debate, held for 90 minutes from 10 a.m. our time, attracted attention as a so-called 'battle between Heuksujeo.'

Republican candidate, 40-year-old Senator JD Vance, is a symbol of the American Dream who overcame a difficult background of poverty, parental divorce, and drug addiction to graduate from Yale Law School and succeed as a lawyer and venture capitalist. Democratic candidate Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, was a humble 'neighborhood uncle' who was born in a rural town in Nebraska and lived as a high school teacher and school football coach.

Although both are white male politicians from Heuksujeo backgrounds with military service, the two candidates have very different life paths and political orientations, and they have already exchanged sharp attacks on each other's backgrounds. Especially since the presidential candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, are in a neck-and-neck race, there were expectations that the two vice presidential candidates would engage in a 'brawl' that was similar yet different.

However, the reality was different. There were no loud voices or personal attacks, and they even neatly acknowledged controversial past statements. Walz admitted, "I was stupid," regarding his disputed claim of being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square incident in China. Vance also said, "I was wrong," about his past criticism of Trump as potentially becoming 'America's Hitler.' They expressed agreement at least nine times on issues ranging from rising housing prices to the need to address school shootings.

The conclusion was warm as well. Walz said, "I enjoyed today's debate and found many commonalities," while Vance said, "If Walz becomes vice president, I will pray for him and help him anytime." Although the anticipated fierce battle did not occur, the debate between the two candidates showed an excellent contest with no winners or losers. Whoever becomes president in the November U.S. election, the vice president will remain a success story of the Heuksujeo.

On the other hand, it is bittersweet to reflect on our situation where the phrase 'politics has disappeared' is often heard. The British economic newspaper Financial Times (FT) pointed out in an April feature article titled 'Has South Korea's Economic Miracle Ended?' that South Korea's 'fourth-rate politics' would hamper the country's economic recovery.