2030 right-wing youth calling for a "re-election due to election fraud" at Olympic Park even at night. Ⓒ Hanmi Ilbo

Most conservatives in their 60s and older tend to view the 2030 right-wing generation as an extension of themselves. However, there is a significant gap between this perception and reality. 

Established conservatism was formed with anti-communism as its core value, rooted in the memories of the Korean War, the Cold War, and industrialization. In contrast, the 2030 right-wing generation did not experience those eras 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-wingers do not unconditionally follow specific politicians, nor are they loyal to political parties. Even if they support a politician, they criticize them if they violate principles; conversely, they may acknowledge some points if they judge the opposing camp to be correct. They have a strong tendency to prioritize facts over ideology and logic over authority. This outlook may appear unfamiliar to the older conservative generation.

Another characteristic is their sense of distance from authority. While conservatives aged 60 and older had relatively strong trust in the state and its institutions, the 2030 right-wingers view everything—including government agencies, the media, political parties, large corporations, and civic groups—as subjects for criticism. They do not recognize any institution as a sanctuary and hold a strong belief that all power must be monitored.

The way they consume information is also different. While the older generation encountered politics primarily through newspapers and television, the 2030 generation is accustomed to searching for and comparing raw data from various online media. They have a strong inclination to reach their own conclusions by cross-referencing multiple sources rather than relying on a single authoritative commentary.

Therefore, understanding the 2030 right-wingers simply as a "young anti-communist generation" can lead to misunderstandings. They are less a generation seeking to inherit the past and more a generation trying to create new standards for conservatism. Anti-communism is merely one of those standards, not the entirety. Liberty, the rule of law, fairness, responsibility, transparency, and constant scrutiny of power have become their political language.

If the established conservative bloc truly wishes to work with the next generation, they must first understand why the younger generation asks different questions than the existing conservative establishment, rather than telling them to "follow the path we have walked." 

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

◆ Songsan Jung Kwang-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 poetry collections, co-translated "The Heroes of Hook Hill," and authored humanities books including "Joseon Become Myth," "Humanities on the Tatami," and "A Liberal's Reading of Gramsci."