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[8th EAI Academy] III. Parliamentary Politics: The Absence of Politics and the Disappearance of Compromise
Editor's Note
Professor Sang-woong Ha of Sogang University points out that Korea's presidential system incorporates elements of a parliamentary system and has structural characteristics that make it easy for the president to become closely aligned with the ruling party in the National Assembly. He also emphasizes that in the current situation where political conflict centered on the two major parties is intensifying, institutional reform, along with a change in voters' political attitudes, is essential to restore 'politics of compromise'.
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It3GzrAp-DQ
Video Script
The surest way to eliminate satellite parties is for us not to vote for them. Then there will be no incentive for politicians to create them. Satellite parties are a trick, a ploy used by major parties with good performance in their districts to gain an advantage in proportional representation. People are aware of the trick of satellite parties. Even if they do not know the specifics, they are aware because the media discusses it so much. They are aware because the major parties themselves criticize each other for creating satellite parties, so the general public is aware. They know, 'Ah, satellite parties are problematic.'
However, during the election, two-thirds of voters cast their ballots for satellite parties. When satellite parties first appeared in 2020, I saw people voting for them and thought, 'Well, let's see what happens in four years.' There has been no change at all. People vote for them even though they know better. While politicians have contributed to this undesirable situation, we have the power as voters to hold them accountable during elections, so there is no need to blame the politicians.
Ha Sang-eung, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Sogang University.
Managed and Edited by: Song Chae-rin, EAI Research Fellow
Inquiries: 02 2277 1683 (ext. 211) | crsong@eai.or.kr
*This text is an AI translation of an original written in Korean. Some translations or nuances may be inaccurate.