Starting Point: Redefining Conservative Values
Following the local elections, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and lawmaker Han Dong-hoon have called for a rebuilding of conservatism. Both candidates distanced themselves from the 'Yoon Again' faction during the campaign, aiming to secure support from the moderate electorate beyond the party's hardline base. Their victories reflect a public desire for the People Power Party to break away from the Yoon Again approach and pursue a reconstruction of conservatism. The success of this endeavor will be a crucial factor in determining the conservative bloc's performance in the 2028 National Assembly elections and the 2030 presidential election.
So, how should conservatism be rebuilt? It must begin with a clear redefinition of conservative values. Establishing these values will clarify the direction forward. Conservatism implies preservation and protection. It is essential to maintain values that allow society to progress peacefully and steadily towards the future. The core of rebuilding conservatism lies in safeguarding peace and stability while advancing without being stagnant, minimizing chaos and conflict.
Among these values, the restoration of law and common sense is indispensable. The declaration of a state of emergency by former President Yoon Suk-yeol is a prime example of violating law and common sense. Yoon stated that he was compelled to declare a state of emergency due to the opposition Democratic Party's abuse of legislative power and excessive impeachment motions that hindered governance. Many citizens may agree that the Democratic Party's interference was severe. However, regardless of the opposition's actions, attempting to address this through a state of emergency is unacceptable. Democratic politics should resolve issues through dialogue, persuasion, and compromise.
Restoring Law and Common Sense through 'Jel-Yoon'
Engaging in dialogue and negotiation with an opposition party that holds a majority in the National Assembly is challenging. However, resorting to extreme measures like a state of emergency instead of democratic procedures cannot be justified. Moreover, the opposition's interference in governance cannot serve as a constitutional basis for declaring a state of emergency. Those opposing 'Yoon Again' are not merely against Yoon himself; they emphasize the violation of law and common sense. They equate 'Yoon Again' with a disregard for these principles. In this context, 'Jel-Yoon' signifies not just a break from Yoon Suk-yeol but a commitment to restoring law and common sense. To rebuild conservatism, there must be a clear demonstration of the will to restore these values through a definitive 'Jel-Yoon' declaration.
The progressive forces advocate for 'justice over law.' In the name of justice, they undermine law and common sense. When the law clearly contradicts justice, it is appropriate to amend the law. However, falling into the trap of 'justice over law' increases the risk of masking political agendas as justice, thereby violating law and common sense. The Democratic Party's push for a special prosecutor bill granting the right to dismiss charges is also framed in the name of justice, claiming to rectify 'manipulated indictments.'
However, a special prosecutor lacks the legal authority to determine whether an indictment is manipulated. They can only prosecute relevant prosecutors if manipulation is suspected, allowing the court to make a judgment. If the court ultimately recognizes a manipulated indictment, then a dismissal can occur. More fundamentally, proving manipulated indictments during President Lee Jae-myung's trial to achieve an acquittal is essential. If the court acknowledges the manipulated indictment, the president will naturally be acquitted. This procedural approach aligns with law and common sense. If a special prosecutor dismisses charges based on alleged manipulation without following this process, it directly contravenes law and common sense.
For the People Power Party to criticize and oppose the dismissal of charges, it must first demonstrate a commitment to upholding and respecting law and common sense. Only then can it gain public legitimacy for opposing charge dismissals. If one disregards law and common sense while demanding others to adhere to them, who will accept that? A clear declaration of 'Jel-Yoon' is the first step in demonstrating the commitment to restoring the values of law and common sense.
Government Support Should Focus on the Vulnerable
Another value that conservatism should uphold is that government support for citizens should prioritize the vulnerable. Conservatism emphasizes individual responsibility over social responsibility. The notion is that success or failure in life is a personal responsibility, not a societal one. A society that rewards hard work and achievements, where individuals succeed through their efforts and fail when they do not, is viewed as a good society. Such a society encourages autonomy and creativity, leading to progress for both individuals and society.
In this context, the current government's policies, such as livelihood support funds, do not align with conservative philosophy. The government distributed 13 trillion won last year and plans to distribute 26 trillion won this year under the guise of livelihood support. Last year, it was provided to all citizens, while this year it targets the bottom 70% of income earners. While government support is necessary, to be genuinely beneficial, it should focus on a small number of individuals with very low income levels. Providing 100,000 won per person to those earning over 100 million won annually is unnecessary. Concentrating support in significantly larger amounts on a small number of individuals and investing the remaining funds in long-term economic and social development can effectively assist those in need while enhancing growth potential, achieving a dual benefit.
Conservatism values individual ability and competition but does not advocate for an unqualified meritocracy or competition at all costs. True conservatism embodies a 'warm conservatism' that helps those who fall behind in competition and creates minimum conditions for those unable to compete. Historically, conservatism in our society has faced criticism for being a 'cold conservatism' that prioritizes competition and ability above all else. It has been criticized for focusing solely on 'self' while neglecting 'community.' The path forward for conservatism should ensure that individual autonomy and creativity are maximized, while also giving special consideration to socio-economic vulnerabilities. For the People Power Party to rebuild conservatism, it must clearly articulate the philosophy that 'government support should focus on the vulnerable.'
Gradual Change within Stability
Conservatism seeks 'gradual change within stability.' It advocates for change without being bound by ideology, respecting experience, tradition, and practices while progressing step by step. Our society's conservatism has been criticized for being insensitive to change. One example is the issue of the prosecution. The prosecution's unchecked power and its history of political investigations and favoritism have been chronic problems. Nevertheless, conservative administrations have failed to confront these issues, resulting in a lack of interest in prosecutorial reform. This has led to calls for the 'abolition of the prosecution service.'
However, it is difficult to argue that the current government's abolition of the prosecution service is the best solution. If the issue lies with the prosecution's investigative powers, then transferring these powers to the police could be a solution. There is no need to divide responsibilities among the police, serious crime investigation agencies, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. This only leads to an unnecessary proliferation of investigative agencies. Following the granting of investigative powers to the police, the government now plans to abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigative powers. While this may prevent the over-expansion of prosecutorial power, it inevitably raises concerns about the over-expansion of police and serious crime investigation agency powers.
The prosecution service has been established for over 70 years, developing specialized investigative capabilities and experience to become the top investigative agency. It has played a role in overseeing the police through investigative guidance. The current administration has abruptly abolished this institution, rendering its expertise unavailable. This has compromised the ability to oversee primary investigative agencies like the police and serious crime investigation agencies, significantly diminishing the national capacity to address corruption and misconduct. The potential for police investigative shortcomings and corruption to become societal issues has also increased. All of this is an inevitable consequence of radical reform.
The Yellow Envelope Law, which significantly expands the scope of union negotiations, is already showing adverse effects. As subcontractors and partner companies gain the ability to negotiate with primary contractors, the number of negotiation channels for primary contractors has effectively increased indefinitely. This raises significant concerns about the burden on labor relations and the potential disruption of business operations. This too stems from radical reforms driven by the ideology of strengthening union rights.
Such radical reforms contradict the conservative ideal of making gradual improvements while respecting tradition and experience. Regardless of the good intentions behind these actions, the outcomes can become societal evils. Conservatives believe that attempts to improve society should proceed gradually and cautiously to yield better results. They hold that it is far wiser to cherish and cultivate a peaceful and stable society than to risk losing it in pursuit of perfection. This is the fundamental philosophy of conservatism. To rebuild conservatism, it is essential to explain to the public why radical reforms are problematic and how to pursue gradual reforms instead.
Clarifying 'Economics is Science, Not Politics'
Conservatism advocates for a market-oriented economy. The fundamental principle driving the economy is the belief in market competition. President Lee Jae-myung has stated, 'The economy is not science or technology; it is politics and power.' He argues that allowing market competition to operate freely leads to side effects like inequality and polarization, necessitating political and governmental intervention to curb market principles.
A prime example is the issue of loans for low-credit individuals. President Lee argues that denying loans or charging high interest rates to those with low credit is 'cruel finance.'
While it is necessary to provide financial support to those who struggle to obtain loans due to low credit, this should be the role of government welfare policy, not economic policy. Financial issues like loans should adhere to market economic principles, while measures for low-credit individuals should be addressed through welfare policies. If the government intervenes in the economy under the pretext that 'the economy is politics,' it distorts the market and leads to more significant side effects.
Traditionally, progressive forces in the West have made state intervention in the economy a fundamental policy. The extreme examples include nationalizing major enterprises or implementing rationing in communist states, which have shown how detrimental such actions can be. Proposals from some ruling party members to build Samsung Electronics or SK Hynix factories in the Honam region also reflect a view of the economy as politics. To rebuild conservatism, it is necessary to clarify the principle that 'economics is economics.'
Rebuilding conservatism cannot be achieved merely through rhetoric. It requires a clear articulation of the values to be restored and translating them into policies that instill a sense of pride in traditional conservatives and foster expectations among moderates for conservatism.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.