The local elections on June 3 are approaching their final stages. However, the dominant issues in the election are not visions for regional development or livelihood policies. Instead, AI-generated misinformation, extreme political attacks, historical controversies, and smear campaigns are only increasing voter fatigue. Concerns are growing that the local elections are becoming a battleground for central politics, rather than a forum for discussing the future of the region.
This election marks a significant entry into the 'AI political era' for South Korea. Authorities have recently launched investigations into AI-manipulated posts and false articles that distort and demean the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Fake articles, misleading images, and distorted videos generated by AI are spreading through social media and YouTube, exacerbating social confusion. This is not merely a case of misinformation; it undermines the very foundation of democracy, which relies on a 'shared reality.'
More concerning is that this phenomenon is increasingly being used as a tool for political mobilization. Past elections relied on organization, funding, broadcasting, and street campaigning. Now, the competition has shifted to algorithms and view counts. YouTube Shorts, sensational videos, extreme claims, and conspiracy theories spread much faster than policy discussions. This is due to the profit structure of platform companies, which favors anger and sensationalism. Short, emotionally charged content generates more clicks and increases advertising revenue.
From an economic perspective, this is a typical example of 'attention economy.' The core asset of platform companies is not factories but human time. The problem is that the content that captures human attention the longest is not always truthful or balanced. Ultimately, democracy is being pushed out of the deliberative process and into a race fueled by emotions.
Similar phenomena are occurring globally. In the United States, ahead of last year's elections, AI robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden's voice spread messages urging people not to vote. Early in the Ukraine war, deepfake videos circulated showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring surrender. In India and the Philippines, AI avatars and voice replication of politicians have been used in campaigns. While technological advancements can make democracy more open, they can also serve as far more dangerous tools for incitement.
The safety debates surrounding this local election also prompt a reflection on the essence of politics. Democratic Party candidate Jeong Won-oh visited the site of the 10th anniversary of the Guui Station disaster and criticized his opponent, Oh Se-hoon, for creating a "structural problem born from safety indifference." He connected this to the controversy over missing rebar in the GTX-A Samsung Station project, placing safety issues at the forefront. In contrast, Oh's camp has countered that this is a political attack.
Safety should not be a tool for political conflict but a fundamental responsibility of administration. South Korean society has repeatedly paid the price for a safety indifference that assumes, "It will be fine." Yet, during election seasons, accidents are consumed as political fodder for attacks against one another. What matters is not who can criticize the other more forcefully, but what systems can be put in place to prevent accidents and improve conditions.
The moral issues within politics are also fueling voter disappointment. TV Chosun reported allegations that Democratic Party candidate Kim Yong-nam operated a loan business under a proxy name. While Kim's camp has categorically denied these allegations, it is hard to deny that this incident highlights a broader crisis of trust in politics. A politician discussing the economy and high interest rates while embroiled in a high-yield loan controversy leaves voters feeling deeply cynical.
The greatest crisis in South Korean politics today is not the ideological divide itself but the collapse of 'trust capital.' Citizens are increasingly finding it difficult to discern what is true and whom to trust. Politicians attack each other with accusations of falsehood, YouTube thrives on sensational videos for clicks, and AI endlessly produces fake images and false articles. In such a structure, only extremes and hatred survive.
Democracy was originally a system that trusted human reason and common sense. However, in the age of AI and platforms, instincts are stimulated faster than human emotions. When politics shifts from policy competition to a competition of anger, the ultimate victims are the citizens. Real issues such as local economies, jobs, transportation, safety, housing, and welfare are pushed aside.
Therefore, what is most needed in this local election is ultimately voter common sense. Voters must calmly assess what policies benefit the region without being swept away by AI misinformation, conspiracy theories, and extreme political attacks. The political sphere must also move away from election strategies that rely on clicks and sensational messages. Local elections should not be proxy battles for central politics but a stage for civic life that determines the lives of citizens.
Technology will continue to advance. AI is likely to become more sophisticated, and the influence of platforms will grow. The issue is not the technology itself but what rules, ethics, and democratic principles will be established on top of it.
This local election is not merely about who will be elected. It serves as a test of whether South Korean democracy will follow a path of common sense and deliberation or sink deeper into algorithm-driven and anger-fueled politics.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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