[Editorial] An alternative political force in wait

“President Yoon Suk Yeol is the lighthouse of hope for the Democratic Party (DP) while the DP’s Lee Jae-myung is the light of hope for People Power Party (PPP),” a participant sarcastically said at a debate sponsored by a third-party forum in the National Assembly. The observation pointedly nailed the two rivaling parties trying to capitalize on the weaknesses of the other.

Former lawmaker Keum Tae-seop underscored the need for a new political force to end partisan politics. He plans to create a new party holding at least 30 seats representing the capital region.

Keum came up with the idea of creating a third party because many voters dislike the two major parties. According to a recent Gallup Korea poll, 29 percent of eligible voters had no party allegiance, no big difference from 36 percent for the DP and 31 percent for the PPP. The DP has lost favor with the public due to its repeated railroading of controversial bills. The party has wasted all its resources defending its leader Lee from judiciary challenges. It now faces a serious ethical question for the allegation of handing out cash envelopes to party members to help its former leader win the election for party leader.

The government and the PPP also lost confidence due to their questionable policies and appointments. The new leadership of the party has been causing one controversy after another after failing to keep its distance from ultraconservative pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon. “Both of the two parties have no capacity to solve problems,” former DP interim leader Kim Chong-in said.

Even if voters aspire for a new political force, a third party may not come easily, given the need for a strong voting base or a powerful candidate for the presidency. As Ahn Cheol-soo of the minority People Party was absorbed into the PPP, a third party may end up being sucked into the mainstream.
Nevertheless, the two major parties sticking to the old ways could be swept up by a big wave. Choi Jang-jip, professor emeritus at Korea University, observed the balance of power between conservative and progressive forces since the three-party merger under President Roh Tae-woo and the coalition under President Kim Dae-jung. The balance was broken under the past Moon Jae-in administration due to its relentless push to root out past wrongdoings.

The two major parties concentrated on hate and slander campaigns to pitch a person with presidential potential and gave way to fandom politics to overrule party functions. To change such abnormalities, the election system must change to overhaul the mighty presidential power and promote diverse political forces. If the two parties cling to their status quo and refuse reform, the frustrated public would have to seek out alternative future-oriented political forces.