Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
New president faces daunting task of uniting sharply divided nation
Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea speaks during his final campaign event in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday, a day before the presidential election. Joint Press Corps
By Lee Hae-rin
Ideological divisions between progressives and conservatives rank as most intense source of conflict
With Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) clinching the presidency, he now faces the daunting task of uniting a nation deeply fractured by months of political turmoil and partisan strife.
His ascension follows months of intense political turmoil and social strife triggered by the controversial imposition of martial law by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The profound divisions facing the incoming administration are underscored by stark figures: A March report from the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) indicated that the public's perception of social conflict reached an unprecedented high of 3.04 points last year on a scale of 0 to 4.
Ideological divisions between progressive and conservative camps ranked as the most intense source of conflict, scoring 3.52 on the survey’s scale. The findings, collected between June and September of last year — before the martial law crisis erupted — suggest deep polarization even ahead of the political upheaval.
Studies suggest that Korea’s social divide reached a breaking point following a series of flashpoints — most notably Yoon's declaration of martial law in December and his subsequent removal from office.
In a recent survey by the Dankook Center for Dispute Resolution, 88 percent of respondents described Korea’s social fractures as "very severe" by the end of 2024.
This marked an all-time high since the survey began in 2008, surpassing the 83 percent reported in 2016 amid the political turmoil sparked by former President Park Geun-hye’s corruption scandal and impeachment.
Ga Sang-jun, a political science professor at Dankook University, said that Korea’s ideological conflicts are evolving in a way comparable to religious wars, with increasing demonization of those holding opposing views.
Supporters of Kim Moon-soo, presidential candidate of the conservative People Power Party attend his final campaign rally at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Moreover, Koreans have developed increasingly hostile feelings toward those from opposing ideological camps, according to an online survey conducted in January by Professor Ha Sang-eung of Sogang University.
It said Koreans experience more disgust than anger toward politicians or political parties that they oppose. In social psychology, disgust is associated with less costly indirect aggression that completely excludes opponents, which could deepen divides.
While many voters prioritize national unity and economic recovery for the next president, Lee pledged during his campaign to avoid taking sides among the public, asserting that the DPK is fundamentally center-right rather than progressive.
“Even if I become president with the help of blue (DPK supporters), I will never rule out those who like the red (PPP). Don’t be disappointed because blue won’t get any special benefits,” he said.
Supporters of Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea attend his final campaign rally in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
Rep. Kim Sang-wook, a vocal critic of Yoon’s martial law declaration who recently left the PPP and joined the DPK said, “Lee Jae-myung is someone who can integrate both conservative and progressive with an open mind.”
Lee, who has emphasized economic pragmatism over ideology in his outreach to conservatives, also promised during television debates to rebuild cooperation with opposition parties through dialogue. He pledged to promote national unity by appointing a diverse range of talented individuals fairly, aiming to ease political polarization.
“If elected, I will not oppress or alienate people who do not support me and rely on my supporters,” he said. “I will never differentiate between supporters and nonsupporters and hate them.”