New President on the Block, Tough Challenges Ahead: South Korea's 2002 Presidential Election (Asia-Pacific Security Studies. Volume 2, Number 3, June 2003)
Abstract
The victory of Roh Moo-Hyun in South Korea's December 2002 presidential election has consolidated South Korea's democratic transition. Roh, a former human rights lawyer and an underdog during the campaign, pledges that he will challenge the old guard and encourage participatory democracy. This election marked the end of the "three Kims" era; three power brokers who have dominated Korean politics since the 1960s. They utilized regional antagonisms, hierarchical party structures, and patronage politics involving money and corruption to run their campaigns and governments. In the 2002 elections, however, younger generations armed with the Internet changed the dynamics of the election, creating a more transparent, clean, and democratic campaign atmosphere. This election signals the beginning of a new era in Korean politics. With lingering impact of regionalism, the election was largely fought on generational and ideological grounds. The older generations tended to support traditional conservative policies, while the younger generations embraced more liberal policies offered by Roh, such as engagement with North Korea and a more autonomous relationship with the United States. Despite his dramatic win over a powerful conservative candidate, Roh will have to adjust his ideology and reform agenda as he won with less than 50 percent of the total vote. How he embraces the other half of the electorate and handles relations with the opposition, while pursuing economic reform and growth, will be critical tests for his political leadership. An even bigger challenge for Roh comes from North Korea's nuclear brinkmanship. Although as a candidate he promised to continue engagement with the North, solving the nuclear issue peacefully may well prove to be out of Roh's reach as Pyongyang insists on talking only to Washington. Mending frayed relations with Washington will be another tough task and, indeed, a critical factor for success in dealing with the North Korean problem.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA494563
Entities
People
- Seongho Sheen
Organizations
- Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies