2030 right-wing youth calling for a "rerun of the fraudulent election" at Olympic Park, even at night. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

Most conservatives over the age of 60 tend to view the 2030 right-wing generation as an extension of themselves. However, there is a significant gap between their perceptions and reality. 

The established conservative base formed its core values around anti-communism, rooted in memories of the Korean War, the Cold War, and industrialization. Conversely, the 2030 right-wing did not experience that era firsthand. For them, the starting point of conservatism is not the memory of anti-communism, but rather individual liberty, fair competition, the rule of law, and trust in national systems.

The 2030 right-wing does not unconditionally follow specific politicians, nor are they loyal to political parties. If a politician they supported violates their principles, they will criticize them; conversely, if they judge the opposing camp to be right on a specific issue, some will acknowledge it. They have a strong tendency to prioritize facts over ideology and logic over authority. This attitude may appear unfamiliar to the existing conservative generation.

Another characteristic is their sense of distance from authority. While conservatives over 60 have relatively strong trust in national institutions and systems, the 2030 right-wing views everything—from government agencies and the press to political parties, large corporations, and civic groups—as subjects of criticism. They do not recognize any institution as sacred and hold a firm belief that all power must be scrutinized.

Their approach to consuming information is also different. While the older generation encountered politics primarily through newspapers and television, the 2030 generation is accustomed to navigating various online media and directly researching raw data to make comparisons. They have a strong inclination to cross-reference multiple sources and draw their own conclusions rather than relying on a single authoritative commentary.

Therefore, understanding the 2030 right-wing simply as a "young anti-communist generation" can be misleading. They are not so much a generation seeking to inherit the past as they are a generation attempting to establish new standards for conservatism. Anti-communism is merely one of those standards, not the entirety of them. Liberty, the rule of law, fairness, responsibility, transparency, and the constant verification of power have become their political language.

If the established conservative base truly wishes to walk alongside the next generation, they must first understand why the youth are asking different questions than the existing conservative establishment, rather than simply telling them to "follow the path we have walked." 

This is because the future of conservatism does not lie in repeating the past, but in distinguishing between the principles that must be upheld regardless of the changing times and the methods that must evolve to fit them.

◆ Songsan (松山) Jung Gwang-je 

A poet and researcher of history and philosophy. Former board member of the Syngman Rhee Institute. Currently serving as a research advisor for the Korea Modern and Contemporary History Research Association and representative of the philosophy forum "Lyceum." He has published four volumes of poetry, co-translated "Heroes of Pork Chop Hill," and authored humanities books including "Joseon, Become a Myth," "Humanities on the Tatami," and "A Liberal's Reading of Gramsci."