‘The government looks like a car without a working brake’

The latest public polls on the popularity rating of the political leaders and parties, especially after the controversial appointment of Minister of Justice Cho Guk, boosted the number of people who support neither the government of President Moon Jae-in nor the opposition Liberal Korea Party. Out of ten, four are sitting on the hedge between the two main rival parties.

Following the appointment of Cho, the popularity rating of the ruling Democratic Party fell conspicuously and boosted the number of people striding on the hedge between them. The growing number of Koreans sitting on the hedge are totally disappointed with the government in power and also unhappy with the conservative opposition party who in their eyes are ‘inefficient and powerless.’
On the day when the government of President Moon Jae-in announced the appointment of Minister of Justice Cho on Sept. 9, 2019, leaders of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party declared that they will stage a mass demonstration in Seoul in front of the Gwanghwamun Gate. However, this did not happen because the organizers failed to win the approval of the use of the venue on that day. Instead of the mass rally, there a one-man demonstration

In this situation, the opposition is camp is split and therefore is unable to effectively compete with the ruling camp. Recently, former opposition leader found fault with the incumbent leaders of the major opposition party, which, in the eyes of the majority of people, appeared to be a sheer example of Jeokjeon Bunyeol, which literally means “Splitting in front of the Enemy.”
When President Moon Jae-in made the bold decision to push ahead with the controversial appointment of Mr. Cho as new minister of justice, there are reports that the President determined that even if the ruling camp rammed through the appointment of Cho, not many middle-of-the-roaders would go the opposition camp.
Korea’s leading daily, Chosun Ilbo on Sept. 9, 2019 editorially said, “The party in power who has no fear of the opposition is like automobile with a brake that does not work.
“When an accident happens, all the passengers on board will be exposed to a great danger,” warned the Chosun editorial.