Fandom politics takes root in Korea

Supporters of Han Dong-hoon, then a candidate for the People Power Party (PPP) chairman, cheer at the conservative party's national convention in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, July 17. Yonhap

Since Han Dong-hoon, the chairman of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), joined the party late last year, the "fandom politics" phenomenon has surfaced within the ruling conservative party.

The prosecutor-turned-politician's popularity is evidenced by the rapid increase in the number of members of his online fan club, "With Hoonie," which has grown from just 20,000 members in mid-April to about 100,000 people by early August.

Han's fandom was prominently displayed during the party's leadership election last month. His supporters followed his campaign rallies across the country, carrying signs with his name and wearing matching white T-shirts. Many middle-aged women cheered whenever Han appeared, booed when rival candidates criticized him and left the venue together after his speech ended.

Han Dong-hoon, center, then a candidate to for the People Power Party (PPP) chairman, enters the venue of the national convention at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, July 23. Yonhap

This is not the first instance of political fandom in Korea. Such fandom has long existed, mainly for figures in the liberal bloc, notably former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Former President Moon Jae-in, former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Lee Jae-myung, and former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, now the leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), are also politicians with strong support bases that can rightly be called fandoms.

However, Han's fandom is the first such case witnessed within the conservative political camp.

Similar to how former DPK leader Lee's fervent supporters aggressively targeted party lawmakers who voiced dissenting views, Han's supporters have also shown a pattern of sending numerous text messages to party lawmakers who oppose him.

This has raised concerns within the party.

"The fandom of Lee Jae-myung is regarded as undermining internal democracy within his party. Although Han's fandom has not reached that level yet, it is necessary to watch cautiously," a political insider from the ruling party said on condition of anonymity.

Lee Jae-myung, center, then the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, takes a selfie with his supporters during his visit to Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, March 22. Yonhap

Reduced tolerance for difference, diversity

Likewise, opposition liberal parties also appear to be in the quagmire of fandom politics.

At the DPK's ongoing regional primary elections for the party leadership race, former leader Lee is dominating with over 90 percent of the votes, with ardent supporters actively participating in the vote. Similarly, Cho again took RKP's chairmanship with an overwhelming 99.9 percent approval rating from party members late last month.

The excessively unilateral approval ratings suggest that political parties are increasingly becoming platforms centered around a single individual with a strong fan base rather than spaces for the flexible exchange of diverse political ideas.

There is growing concern within the main opposition DPK that excessive fandom is eroding tolerance for differences and diversity, which are essential for meaningful political discourse.

"The DPK has been taken over by a small group of hardline 'Gaeddal,' who are only loyal to Lee Jae-myung. Diversity and dynamism have disappeared within the party," Kim Du-kwan, former DPK lawmaker and a candidate for the liberal party's leadership, said during a joint speech session of the party, Thursday.

"Those who hold differing opinions are labeled as enemies, subjected to text bomb attacks (from supporters of the strong candidate) and even pressured to leave the party," Kim said, emphasizing that the party now faces a critical choice: whether to return to a liberal party that upholds democratic values of diversity and dynamism or to succumb to the factionalism of radical supporters of Lee.

Even Lee himself urged his supporters to refrain from excessively calling and texting other candidates in the leadership race.

"Frequent texts and calls are not encouragement but rather a source of distress," he wrote on Facebook last month.

Cho Kuk, the leader of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, takes a photo with his supporters in Seoul, April 7. Newsis

Fandom views politics as good vs. evil, hinders dialogue

Political watchers warn that even if the initial intention of such fandom is pure, supporters might distort the democratic process by aggressively suppressing dissenting voices, applying undue pressure on political opponents and creating an environment where only their favored viewpoints are allowed to prevail.

They also warn that social media platforms are accelerating and intensifying such fandom by highlighting selective information and distorting facts via their unique algorithms. This can lead to the proliferation of conspiracy theories and the radicalization of political supporters. Additionally, there is a risk that excessive fandom culture could exacerbate political polarization in Korea, fueling increased hatred.

"Fandom is a distinct characteristic that manifests strongly in Korean politics. There is a correlation between the extent of social media use in a society with the likelihood of fandom occurrence. When social media is widely used, supporters develop personal attachments, making fandom inevitable," Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University, told The Korea Times.

"The biggest problem with fandom is that it emotionalizes politics, which should be a rational process. When fandom develops, politics becomes emotional and is viewed through a struggle between good and evil. This makes dialogues more difficult, as affection for a politician lacks rational justification and can lead to extreme reactions, such as wanting to eliminate or overthrow those who oppose one's favored politician, potentially resulting in dangerous situations," he emphasized.

Viewing politics through the lens of good versus evil creates a reluctance to seek coexistence with the political community, the professor explained, adding this hampers essential values like community, solidarity and empathy from flourishing.