Red and Blue: How Polarization is Testing South Korea’s Democracy
Source: News1
Following the removal of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, upheld by the court on April 4, 2025, and the recent presidential election, political debate has intensified more than ever. With growing polarization deepening regional, generational, and ideological divides, questions about South Korea’s future and democracy arise once again. Why is political polarization so fervent in South Korea, and how is it undermining democracy now?
Red vs Blue: Korea’s Two-Party System
While multiple factors contribute to the polarization of South Korean politics, one of the most prominent is the two-party system, with red representing the conservative People Power Party and blue representing the liberal Democratic Party of Korea. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that there are only two parties, but rather that power transitions occur solely between the two parties. Over the past few presidential elections, the winning candidate from one of the two dominant parties has been elected. Although other parties technically still have a chance, there is a significant tendency for citizens to lean towards binary choices, as third parties rarely win a majority of seats. As a result, even voters supporting third parties become discouraged, thinking that their preferred party cannot win if it is not one of the two dominant parties, ultimately resulting in leaving citizens torn between two ideologically contrasting choices.
Polarization, a Threat to Democracy
To fully grasp the details of why polarization threatens democracy, we first need to understand the current two-party system and its problems in the context of South Korean politics. If the two dominant parties are able to find common ground in legislative decision-making or governance, this wouldn’t necessarily be a problem. However, these two parties are heavily reliant on rallying public support by fueling animosity towards the rival party and inflaming opposition. As a result, citizens ultimately start to see politics as a partisan “battle”. This perception of politics is actually rather dangerous, as citizens begin to align themselves with a certain party rather than their own beliefs, influenced by tribal mentality. They support their party unquestioningly, prioritizing the discrediting of the opposition rather than carefully examining the actual issues or policies at hand. Citizens start to distrust politics, undermining the very purpose of democracy. If nobody is willing to compromise, what is the purpose? It’s just a never-ending battle.
Social Divisions
The consequences of political polarization persist throughout South Korean society, as seen through many different categorical lines. One very distinct division is the regional, which was especially present in the most recent presidential election. Election maps highlight this trend, particularly the east-west split, as the PPP dominates the east (Daegu, Busan, Gyeongsang provinces) while the Democratic Party dominates the west (Gwangju, Jeolla provinces). Voters in their 40s and 50s tended to lean towards progressive candidates, while younger voters tended to be more conservative.
Furthermore, a survey done by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs revealed that a striking 58% of respondents stated that having a contrasting political view was a deal-breaker even for marriage. Another survey done by the KIHSA revealed that the perceived level of societal conflict in South Korea hit 3.04 out of 4 last year, with political polarization being rated at 3.52, the highest among all categories of social conflict. Political polarization is straining personal relationships between family, friends, colleagues, romantic partners, and more. This undermines national cohesion and trust, and at what cost?
The Cost of Division
South Korea’s political polarization, driven by partisan divisions, remains a real and relevant threat to democracy. Following recent political events, South Korean citizens are expecting the political situation to worsen, not improve., For a better, democratic future, it is imperative for political polarization to be mitigated. Rooted in the two major parties that dominate power shifts and generational, regional, and social divisions, polarization only paves the path forward for a toxic and dangerous social and political culture. The citizens and politicians of South Korea must turn away from partisan loyalties and fueling animosity and instead focus on encouraging cooperation and a healthy democracy.