The Era of $40,000: Achievements Buried by Political Strife

The Democratic Party's core hardline supporters are sensitive to political narratives and pride. Therefore, a differentiated approach is needed to appease them, distinct from the achievement-oriented communication strategy used for centrists.

The Democratic Party should persuade centrists by presenting tangible policy achievements, but for hardline supporters, it needs to employ a delicate communication strategy that does not offend their important political values and pride.

A distinct phenomenon is observed where core Democratic Party supporters tend not to respond to opinion polls. As a result, the Democratic Party's apparent approval rating tends to be measured lower than the actual unity of its support base.

Referring to the case where the People Power Party's approval rating was measured low in the early days of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, it was pointed out that a method is needed to encourage supporters to actively respond to polls by motivating them.

This can be perceived as an attitude of avoiding responsibility.

It was emphasized that blaming others for the failure of state administration, similar to the 'Choi Soon-sil blame' controversy during former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, erodes public trust, and the president themselves cannot be free from responsibility.

Many citizens felt disappointment with the Democratic Party through its party leadership election process, demonstrating that when a particular party's factional competition deviates from the original goal of government success, it leads to public skepticism. While competition over factional lines is natural for any party, the process should not alienate public sentiment.

It was emphasized that the Presidential Office and ruling party lawmakers must pursue self-reflection and harmonious cooperation for the success of the government, and excessive internal competition can weaken the momentum of national governance.

They particularly expressed a desire for the media to pay more attention to the phenomenon of core support base wavering.

They perceive internal critics and external destabilizers separately, and analyze that they are wary of such criticism and destabilization potentially hindering the stability of national governance.

The 'broken windows theory' states that if small problems are left unaddressed, they can escalate into larger ones. This theory is effectively manifesting within the current government, according to analysis. It warns that if small problems or cracks within the government are neglected, they can lead to the instability of the entire regime.

Therefore, it was emphasized that the government must strengthen internal cohesion and maintain the robustness of state administration to thoroughly manage small issues and prevent them from becoming an excuse to destabilize the regime.

Particularly when applying this theory to state administration, it was pointed out that the first to 'break the window' were critical factions within the same political alignment.

Along with the analysis that the Blue House's concerns also lie in internal divisions, it was emphasized that criticism from certain factions is a major cause of undermining national momentum and triggering a decline in approval ratings.

It was pointed out that despite ample positive material that could boost the Lee Jae-myung administration's approval ratings for state administration, it is not being properly publicized. Particularly, the case where railway privatization, attempted during the Lee Myung-bak administration, was thwarted and KORAIL was integrated was emphasized as an important achievement made through the Lee Jae-myung administration's decisive action.

However, it was analyzed that there is a structural problem where these national achievements are not well known, coupled with the tendency of some media outlets and certain individuals to report primarily on criticism.

It was particularly emphasized that the ability to effectively manage groups that engage in excessive, unreasonable internal criticism is key to political competence.

It was urged that political ability stems from strengthening internal cohesion and managing problems, and through this, the president must demonstrate further evolution and exert strong leadership.

It was pointed out that despite South Korea entering the era of $40,000 per capita national income, this news is lined up alongside social strife, tragedies, deficiencies, and futile news, thereby diminishing its significance. The achievement of $40,000, a long-cherished aspiration from promises like '747' and '474' dating back 20 years, is a result of the efforts of all citizens, not the achievement of a specific administration.

However, regret was expressed over the reality where social conflicts and tragic news overshadow such national achievements, and the question was posed whether the dignity of this society has truly changed.

It was pointed out that despite the national celebration of achieving $40,000 per capita national income, the political sphere remains quiet. It was particularly criticized that not only the People Power Party but also the Rebuilding Korea Party and certain individuals show a吝嗇 (stingy) attitude towards praise, simply because it was achieved during the Lee Jae-myung administration.

Citing a JTBC anchor's comment, it was emphasized that such an attitude by the political sphere stems from a biased perspective that disparages achievements based on partisan interests, refusing to acknowledge a national celebration.