The End of the 'Competent but Corrupt Conservative' Myth

The long-held myth that conservatives in South Korea are 'competent but corrupt' appears to be crumbling, giving way to a widespread perception of sheer incompetence. This shift, according to the analysis, is not a result of fickle public opinion or flawed election strategies but a decade-long judgment by the electorate on conservative governance. The upcoming local elections are poised to mark a definitive end to this outdated narrative.

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The long-standing myth that 'conservatives are competent even if corrupt' is coming to an end with this election.

The article points to the 2014 Sewol Ferry disaster as a pivotal moment that deeply ingrained the image of conservative incompetence in the public consciousness. The government's response, characterized by a lack of a command center, chaotic on-site operations, and attempts to conceal the truth, inflicted a profound trauma and disappointment on the nation. The infamous 'Park Geun-hye's 7 hours' became a symbol of a leader's moral decay and ineptitude. Even Park's subsequent impeachment in 2016 was attributed to her incompetence rather than corruption, highlighting a different kind of failure.

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The Park Geun-hye government showed the extreme of helplessness in a national disaster situation.

The launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, initially seen as a potential opportunity for conservatives to regain perceived competence following the perceived failures of the previous government, has instead exacerbated the situation. The article criticizes President Yoon for engaging in ideological warfare, surrounding himself with far-right YouTubers, presiding over near-zero economic growth, and severely damaging social systems. The administration's policies are described as impulsive, its diplomacy fraught with blunders, and its governance marked by a narrow focus on protecting the First Lady, leading the country toward a precipice.

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President Yoon Suk-yeol made Park Geun-hye seem like a fairy.

The author contends that the conservative bloc's fundamental miscalculation is its belief in its continued dominance in South Korean politics. Despite repeated electoral defeats in general elections and a losing record in presidential and local elections, conservatives lack the desperation of a minority party. Their political territory has shrunk to regions like Yeongnam and Gangnam, yet they exhibit an aversion to engaging with other areas. With their traditional base of anti-communist supporters naturally dwindling, they have been slow to cultivate new support. The myth of competence has been stripped away, leaving behind only incompetence, corruption, anachronistic ideological battles, accusations of betrayal, and conspiracy theories about election fraud. The upcoming local elections are framed as a confirmation of this decade-long decline, with voters no longer swayed by demagoguery or 'security populism.'

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The conservatives have lost three consecutive general elections and are facing a 1-2 record in presidential and local elections.