[Political Reset] Crisis of the Rule of Law, Crisis of Democracy

When Francis Fukuyama mentioned the victory of liberal democracy in his 1989 work "The End of History," it was accepted as a given for some time. The collapse of the communist bloc, symbolized by the end of the Soviet Union and the liberalization of Eastern Europe, seemed to inevitably lead to the globalization of liberal democratic systems. But that is no longer the case. Russia invaded Ukraine, and China has become the world's second-largest economy. Rather, the consolidation of democracy has become a distant story. It is shaking from its roots. In Europe, far-right parties such as the Alternative for Germany have risen. The United States under Donald Trump supported these groups. Scholars are now raising fundamental questions about whether democracy is truly the best system.

No need to look far. The reality of martial law being declared in South Korea, one of the world's top 10 economies, directly reflects the crisis of liberal democracy. It does not stop there. Violent attacks on courts and harsh criticism of constitutional judges indicate that the systemic crisis in our country is deepening. According to a survey conducted by East Asia Institute (EAI) through Korea Research on January 22-23, only 62.6% of men in their 20s responded that "democracy is better than any other system," which is symbolic. Eight years ago, it was 84.3%. That is a 20 percentage point drop. Only 64.3% of men in their 30s responded positively.

Orderly resignation and enforcement according to legal procedures during the impeachment phase are under threat. There is no leader who can manage the situation stably and guide the people. Politicians focus more on "power" than on the "people." They speak of the "people," but their real concern is whether they can maintain or seize power. The authority of the country and social order are shaking. What was once common sense is becoming uncommon in this country. It was only recently that K-content was globally recognized and a source of pride...

Because the existing order has lost trust, populists who claim "the people over the law" are gaining power in our country as well. They showed their presence and expanded their influence during the martial law and impeachment phase. Certainly, a different phase has unfolded. They claim to represent the people and label opponents as "enemies of the people." They reject others while professing to be true believers in democracy. They deny the rule of law and call for "people's rule." They reject the existing system. Outwardly, they advocate democracy, but within it, the rule of law and diversity do not exist. They are anti-liberal and anti-rule of law. Endless political conflict and factionalism have become their nourishment.

The foundation that allowed them to exploit the fragile system includes YouTube and social networking services (SNS). YouTube deepened distrust of traditional media. SNS erased the boundaries between center and periphery. It became possible to rally forces at minimal communication cost. A highway was paved where anyone could express their views without filtering. Through YouTube and SNS, fake news, various hate speech, and divisiveness rapidly activated. The changed environment handed weapons to populists.

Given the current impeachment trial flow, a ruling on President Yoon Seok-yeol’s impeachment is expected in March. Whether our society can establish balance and order through harmony and integration after the ruling will determine the future of Korean democracy. Politicians must first firmly uphold the rule of law. They must fully accept the rulings of the Constitutional Court and judiciary. Otherwise, chaos will continue, and the country will lose its direction.