"You can run, but you cannot hide"  KTV screen capture

“We must prove that democracy provides sustenance.”

President Lee Jae-myung's opening remark at the 2022 Seoul Global Political Science Association (IPSA) World Congress carries a clear message. If democracy cannot tangibly improve people's lives, the system is ultimately bound to falter. The notion that the economy and democracy exist in an interactive relationship is valid in itself.

However, the issue lies in how that statement is actually being implemented. The President's words and actions increasingly invite the stigma of "whataboutism democracy." He criticized "anti-democratic coups that exclude dialogue and compromise," yet he himself is pushing forward a one-sided national administration, turning his back on communication with opponents. The suspension of advertisements for critical media, budget cuts for institutions critical of the government, and remarks about "checking reporting attitudes" towards specific media outlets remind the public of past authoritarian regimes.

While emphasizing "K-Democracy" and speaking of freedom and solidarity, the reality is a continuous pattern of partisan division and cronyism. There is a "reward for past favors" controversy surrounding the successive appointments of former Naver executives to the Blue House and cabinet positions. Han Sung-sook, the nominee for Minister of SMEs and Startups, and Choi Hui-young, the nominee for Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, both held key positions at Naver. One cannot help but question whether the criteria for appointments are based on competence or on connections to the ruling power.

There was also a plan to use AI technology as a tool for democratic evolution. He advocated for expanding direct democracy using technology, but in the public's memory, the suspicion of digital public opinion manipulation comes to mind first. The circumstances suggesting that a segment of Lee Jae-myung's supporters spread manipulated images and fake news after the presidential election are still a significant part of the ongoing discussions about a special prosecutor. The distortion of public opinion driven by technology could be a new threat to democracy.

Ultimately, for whom is President Lee Jae-myung's democracy intended? He emphasized "a nation where the people are sovereign," but it is questionable whether the people are actually treated as sovereign in reality. "Selective democracy," which is ruthless towards political opponents and lenient towards allies, is not what the people desire.

The true strength of democracy comes not from words but from practice, not from declarations but from consistency. If the President truly intends to champion democracy, he must first reflect on his own words and actions. Only when words and actions align will the public finally trust the power. What we need now is not "democracy that provides sustenance," but democracy where even the attitude at the dinner table is consistent.

#LeeJaeMyung #KDemocracy #Whataboutism #RewardForFavors #InconsistentWordsAndActions #AIDemocracy #MediaSuppression #DirectDemocracy #SelectiveDemocracy #PoliticalCritique