Parties turn inward after voters' warning

The June 3 local elections delivered a warning to both the ruling and opposition parties. But rather than reflecting on the result and pursuing reform, Korea’s political establishment appears increasingly consumed by internal power struggles.

The ruling party was rattled by a recent poll showing a sharp decline in support for President Lee Jae Myung. In a survey conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute from Monday to Tuesday, only 50.4 percent of respondents said that Lee was doing a good job, down 9.4 percentage points from two weeks earlier. Support for the ruling Democratic Party stood at 38.6 percent, only slightly ahead of the People Power Party at 38.1 percent.

The ruling camp should take these figures seriously. Just a year after taking power following the martial law declaration and impeachment of the previous president, the Democratic Party appears to have lost much of the public goodwill it once enjoyed.

After the elections, Lee, who is on a European tour, apologized to the public through social media and promised to work harder with greater humility. But it remains unclear whether he fully recognizes the voters’ message.

At a news conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration on Monday, Lee described the election outcome as “a warning from the people.” At the same time, however, he indicated no intention of changing the administration’s governing approach. He also mentioned the need for a special counsel investigation related to the withdrawal of charges in cases connected to him — a proposal the ruling party appears prepared to pursue.

Such positions may have contributed to the drop in support. Internal tensions are also surfacing ahead of the Democratic Party’s August convention, with rivalry emerging between factions aligned with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and party leader Jung Chung-rae. Instead of focusing on governing after its defeat in the Seoul mayoral race, the ruling camp appears increasingly absorbed in factional politics.

The opposition offers little reason for optimism. Despite suffering what was effectively a major defeat in the local elections, the People Power Party has shown few signs of renewal. Instead, party leader Jang Dong-hyeok has appeared at rallies, carrying signs alleging election fraud and calling for nationwide revotes.

Election management problems should be corrected, but it is troubling that the issue appears to be used for political purposes and that few within the party seem willing to challenge it.

According to recent polls, the People Power Party is narrowing the gap with the Democratic Party. But that reflects conservative voters seeking to check the government rather than opposition success. History shows that governments that ignore public sentiment decline, and that opposition parties that fail to reform are left behind.