Changing Korean Voters 6: The Candlelight Vigils, the Impeachment Crisis, and the 19th Presidential Election

"The Dawn of a New Electoral Political Landscape, the 2017 Presidential Election"

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The New Political Landscape of Korea and the 2017 Presidential Election

The 19th presidential election in 2017 was held in the aftermath of the candlelight vigils sparked by the state affairs manipulation scandal and the unprecedented impeachment of a president in Korean political history. Consequently, public interest was higher than ever, and there was an outpouring of demand for a new era of politics and a new governance paradigm. This book does not dismiss the election as a mere change of government due to the failure of conservative politics. Instead, it analyzes it in depth within the flow of changes in Korean electoral politics since democratization in 1987. By analyzing the voting behavior of voters in the 2017 presidential election, who experienced unprecedented events that marked a turning point in Korean political history, this book serves as a starting point for anticipating the future political landscape of Korea.

EAI's "Changing Korean Voters" Series: Setting the Standard for Korean Electoral Politics Research

The East Asia Institute (EAI) has conducted panel surveys to track public opinion trends since the 2006 local elections and has published the research findings in the "Changing Korean Voters" series. EAI has played a pivotal role in electoral politics research by tracking the diverse voting behaviors of voters as they change in the unique electoral political landscape of Korea. This series not only presents a diachronic analysis of the changing patterns of voter behavior but also provides an essential theoretical framework for understanding contemporary Korean society and its politics and democracy, going beyond mere academic value to grasp the demands and challenges of our times.

Changes in Korean Voters Reflected in the 2017 Presidential Election

This book identifies various changes in Korean voters during the 2017 presidential election, including the transformation of the conservative base, once considered a 'concrete conservative bloc,' through the collapse of the conservative party which recorded its lowest vote share in history, and the generational effects observed in voters born in the 1960s who experienced democratization during their formative years in their early twenties. Part I addresses the collapse and realignment of conservative politics. It analyzes the changes and characteristics of conservative politics through this election, where the conservative party split and recorded the lowest vote share in its history since democratization in 1987. Parts II and III analyze the factors influencing voter choices in this election, including the impact of the candlelight vigils, regionalism, ideology and generation, policy preferences, and the effects of the highly debated TV debates.

Table of Contents

Foreword ■ Kang Won-taek

Part I: Changes in Conservative Politics

Chapter 1: Conservative Politics in the 19th Presidential Election: Collapse or Fragmentation? ■ Kang Won-taek

Chapter 2: Conservative Votes in the 19th Presidential Election ■ Han Jeong-hoon

Chapter 3: Cracks in Concrete Conservatism: Causes and Consequences of the Emergence of Swing Conservative Voters ■ Jeong Han-wool · Kang Woo-chang

Part II: Factors Influencing Voter Choices

Chapter 4: Candlelight Participation and Changes in Voters ■ Kim Bo-mi

Chapter 5: Possibility of Change in Regionalist Voting Behavior ■ Lim Seong-hak

Chapter 6: Generational Factors in Voting Choices and Ideological Orientation: Analysis of Presidential Elections from 1992 to 2017 ■ Bae Jin-seok

Part III: Third Candidates and Election Campaigns

Chapter 7: Analysis of Ahn Cheol-soo Supporters in the 19th Presidential Election ■ Seo Hyun-jin

Chapter 8: Changes in the Influence of Policy Preferences on Candidate Choice: Focusing on the 19th Presidential Election ■ Lee Han-soo

Chapter 9: The 19th Presidential Election and TV Debates: Effects on Changes in Voter Support ■ Kang Shin-gu