[The Editors' Verdict] Leadership of Coexistence and Consideration: "Crown Shyness"

Just as Each Maintains Its Own Space and Survives Together
Governing Through Cooperation With the Opposition
Sophisticated Politics for the Socially Vulnerable

If you look up at the sky from a lush June forest, you may notice that the densely packed treetops maintain a subtle distance from one another, with each tree's branches growing without intruding on its neighbors. This natural phenomenon, where the treetops?known as the "canopy"?maintain their own territory among adjacent trees, is called "Crown Shyness" by botanists. They note that the strict boundaries formed by the ends of branches and leaves resemble the shape of a crown.

Although there is no definitive explanation for why "Crown Shyness" occurs, scientists agree that it is a sophisticated survival strategy that trees have developed through long evolution. Thanks to these gaps, sunlight can filter down to the forest floor through the spaces between the branches, and even as the trees sway in the wind, their branches do not collide and injure each other. The clear boundaries between the treetops, with glimpses of the sky weaving through, make it seem as if massive living beings are carefully dividing up space. Although the trees compete fiercely for survival in the forest, their ability to coexist without encroaching on each other is truly remarkable.

"Crown Shyness" is closely connected to the leadership qualities that the Lee Jaemyung administration, which has pledged to be a "just and pragmatic government," must embody. First, it represents leadership that embraces the opposition as a partner in governance. Just as trees in the forest compete yet find sophisticated strategies for coexistence, the Lee Jaemyung administration must engage in dialogue and cooperation with the opposition. The public sentiment in the 21st presidential election demands this. Even though more than 60% of the public expressed a desire for an "end to civil strife" in opinion polls, President Lee Jaemyung's vote share stalled just short of 50%, while candidate Kim Moonsu barely surpassed 40%. It is crucial to remember that the Yoon Sukyeol administration faced disaster because it turned its back on "inclusive politics."

Second, "Crown Shyness" symbolizes leadership that considers society's vulnerable groups. Korean society must pay attention to the voting patterns of young people revealed in this presidential election. According to exit polls by the three major broadcasters, among men in their 20s and younger, Lee Junsuk received 37.2%, Kim Moonsu 36.9%, and Lee Jaemyung 24%. In contrast, among women in their 20s and younger, Lee Jaemyung garnered 58.1%, Kim Moonsu 25.3%, and Lee Junsuk 10.3%, showing a clear divide.

The voting tendencies of men in their 20s should be understood in the context of economic inequality and social polarization. It would be a mistake to simply interpret this as a shift toward conservatism among young men. In "After the Square" (Munhakdongne), an analysis of the democratization process after the 12·3 Martial Law, co-author Lee Jaejung reported that in a survey of 1,000 young people who participated in the square, the most common answer to the question "What threatens democracy?" was "worsening economic inequality."

Young people are frustrated by the unstable job market represented by platform labor and the deepening economic inequality with older generations, and it appears that young men feel even more anxious about the future than young women. The Democratic Party must reflect on whether it has offered any alternatives to the voices of young people, who are often described as a "generation without hope."

Political leaders must recognize that the youth vote in this election reflects not only a desire to change the nation's top leader, but also a longing for structural "social reform." With "Crown Shyness" leadership, just as every small plant and living creature beneath and beside the trees finds its own place and forms a harmonious forest community, the Lee Jaemyung administration must demonstrate sophisticated leadership for young people and other vulnerable groups in society.

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