Presidential elections-2022 in the Republic of Korea

Occupation: Leading Research Fellow, Korean Studies Center
Affiliation: Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: 32, Nakhimovsky Av., Moscow, 117997, Russian Federation

Journal name

Problemy Dalnego Vostoka

Edition

Issue 2

Pages

80-96

Abstract

The presidential race of 2022 was fought on the background of the uneasy legacy of President Moon Jae-in between the candidate of the ruling Democratic Party Lee Jae-myong and the representative of the conservatives, former Attorney General Yoon Seok-yeol. Each of the camps was represented by a person who was not a typical representative of his camp and has a difficult relationship with the "core of the party". Lee is a representative of the inner-party opposition, and not Moon's successor. Yoon has found himself in the conservative camp after the conflict with the Blue House due to the logic of factional struggle and the absence of a third force in the politics of the Republic of Korea. Lee was called the Korean Bernie Sanders because of the promise of unconditional basic income and other social programs, and in foreign policy he promised to continue inter-Korean rapprochement. Yun had to reflect conservative discourse and advocated a tougher policy towards the DPRK, an alliance with the United States and the restoration of relations with Japan.

The elections turned out to be a record in terms of populist promises and black PR against candidates and their families. This led to a specific situation when, on the eve of the elections, both candidates had a high anti-rating and the final gap between them was less than one percent. In such a situation, the victorious Yoon Seok-yeol will have to face the split of society, the Democrats controlling the parliament, and the need to strengthen the unity of the party in the difficult international situation and internal problems.

Keywords

Presidential elections of 2022 in S Korea, internal politics of South Korea, populism, political technologies, Lee Jae-myung, Yoon Seok-yeol

Received

17.03.2022

Publication date

19.04.2022

Number of characters

40669

Cite

GOST	Asmolov K. Presidential elections-2022 in the Republic of Korea // Problemy Dalnego Vostoka – 2022. – Issue 2 C. 80-96 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://pdv.jes.su/S013128120019649-4-1 (circulation date: 27.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013128120019649-4
MLA	Asmolov, Konstantin "Presidential elections-2022 in the Republic of Korea." Problemy Dalnego Vostoka 2 (2022):80-96. DOI: 10.31857/S013128120019649-4
APA	Asmolov K. (2022). Presidential elections-2022 in the Republic of Korea. Problemy Dalnego Vostoka (2), pp.80-96 DOI: 10.31857/S013128120019649-4

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 3, views: 551

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Asmolov K.V. K chemu privedet Respubliku Koreya skandal s blogerom Druid King (Where will the scandal with the blogger Druid King lead the Republic of Korea to?). RSMD. 27.02.2019. URL: https://russiancouncil.ru/analytics-and-comments/analytics/k-chemu-privedet-respubliku-koreya-skandal-s-blogerom-druid-king/ (accessed: 08.04.2022). (In Russ.)

2. Bulychev G.B. Politicheskie sistemy gosudarstv Korejskogo poluostrova (Political systems of the states of the Korean Peninsula). Moscow: MGIMO, 2002. (In Russ.)

3. Dal' R. Demokratiya i eyo kritiki (Democracy and its critics) / per. s angl. pod red. Il'ina M.V. Moscow: ROSSPEN, 2003. (In Russ.)

4. D'yachkov I.V. Politicheskaya porcha: kak v YUzhnoj Koree boryutsya s korrupciej (Political decay: how South Korea fights corruption). MGIMO. 23.04.2015. URL: https://mgimo.ru/about/news/experts/270614/ (accessed: 08.04.2022). (In Russ.)

5. Fareed Z. The rise of illiberal democracy // Foreign Affairs. Vol. 76. No. 6. 1997.

6. Fukui H. Political parties of Asia and the Pacific. Vol. 1. Westpoint: Greenwood Press, 1985; Elections in Asia. A data handbook, Vol. II. South East Asia, East Asia & the South Pacific. Edited by Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann. Oxford, 2001

7. Kukla M. CHto zhdet ekonomiku YUzhnoj Korei posle prezidentskih vyborov? (What awaits the economy of South Korea after the presidential elections?). DVFU. 11.02.2022. URL: https://www.dvfu.ru/expertise/news/atr/chto_zhdet_ekonomiku_yuzhnoy_korei_posle_prezidentskikh_vyborov/ (accessed: 08.04.2022). (In Russ.)

8. Lan'kov A.N. CHetveryh posadili, odin pokonchil s soboj. CHto proiskhodit s prezidentami YUzhnoj Korei (Four were imprisoned, one committed suicide. What happens to the presidents of South Korea). Gazeta.ru. URL: https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2021/12/26/14356633.shtml?updated (accessed: 08.04.2022). (In Russ.)

9. Safonova E. Esli Evtushenko protiv, to ya — za!. (If Yevtushenko is against it, then I am all for it!.). Ogonyok. 09.04.2000. URL: https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2287388 (accessed: 08.04.2022). (In Russ.)

10. Sung Chul Yang. The North and South Кorean Political Systems. A Comparative Analysis. Revised Edition. Seoul: Hollym, 1999.

11. Talmon J.L. The Origins of Totalitarian Democracy. Britain: Secker & Warburg, 1960.