Policy competition disappears in election campaign

By Kang Seung-woo

Rival parties’ campaigns for the April 13 general election are missing policy competition although the nation is facing serious challenges like economic woes and security threats.

Instead of promoting their policies handling those pending issues, the parties are employing tactics depending on regionalism, tough talk against opponents, populist schemes and eye-catching performances ― all with no relation to the reality facing Korea ― to woo voters.

With President Park Geun-hye entering her fourth year in office, Korea is in serious trouble on two fronts. The economy is suffering and security is at risk due to frayed inter-Korean relations, which make voters interested in policy suggestions and ideas to boost the economy and keep the nation safe.

However, the parties are taking a different path from that leading to voters’ desires, seeking their own political interests.

In the forthcoming election, th

e ruling Saenuri Party is seeking to win more than a majority in the 300-seat unicameral National Assembly and the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) has defined the election as a referendum on the Park government and its failures. The newly-formed minor opposition People’s Party has set its sights on transforming the nation’s two-party system into a three-way format and expanding its presence in parliament.

To these ends, each side is required to have realistic policy suggestions, but their efforts to pitch policies to voters are nowhere to be found.

Such behavior appears to be a sequel to the parties’ disappointing factional feuds over their respective candidate nominations.

Without clear policy visions, the parties have returned to their old vulgar campaign styles.

The Saenuri Party was seeking to get 200 seats ― enough by itself to revise the Constitution ― when a split of the opposition bloc took place earlier this year.

However, frustrated by the party’s nasty nomination process, its followers ― even from Daegu, President Park’s political stronghold ― have withdrawn their support, and so the besieged party has turned to regionalism, the plague that has been the biggest problem in national elections for decades.

On Wednesday, Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan, in charge of the party’s campaign in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, begged for votes from Daegu citizens, saying, “Should Daegu not support the Saenuri Party, the Park administration and the ruling party will face serious difficulties in leading the country.”

Chairman Kim Moo-sung in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province asked if the people there were angry at lawmakers from the opposition bloc who are elected all the time, saying they do nothing for the people in the region. This drew a backlash from the MPK as North and South Jeolla provinces are where the opposition has been a perennial dominant force.

In addition, the ruling party once again brought up the ideology issue, criticizing the MPK for its call for a reopening of the suspended Gaeseong Industrial Complex. The Saenuri Party chairman denounced it as pro-North Korea activity.

The MPK and the People’s Party spent most of their time in discussions over fielding a single candidate in each constituency from the opposition bloc until recently rather than appealing to voters with their policy agendas.

“In the campaign for this general election, the political parties touched on regionalism and the ideology issue, meaning they do not have enough ability to discuss policy agendas,” said Lee Kwang-jae, an official from civic group Korea Manifesto Center.

Along with them, each party is adopting strategies that are only focused on stressing a candidate’s image with theme songs.

“Although I want to know each candidate’s campaign pledges for my region, they are more likely playing theme songs as part of an image election,” said Park Hyun-wook, a resident of Daegu.

The ruling party even unveiled a song apologizing for its factional feud over candidate nominations as a desperate attempt to prevent the departure of its traditional supporters.

The use of theme songs in the election is not unusual in other countries, according to the political circle.

In the United States, many theme songs are produced but they are used in the national convention or on TV and Internet promotions.

In Britain, rather than massive street campaigns, candidates are more engaged in intensive discussions.