Editorial Board Member, Director of the Korea Strategic Research InstituteLooking back on the one-year anniversary of former President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law, the recent criticisms and assessments from some media outlets are symbolic of "shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted." When politics veers in the wrong direction, responsible media should not merely describe the unfolding disaster in a cool manner, but rather warn and guide the path beforehand. However, today's media rushes in when an incident occurs, saying, "That was strange then," or "I knew it," attempting a belated attack. This act itself abandons the very reason for the media's existence. They failed to warn the public and did not check the power of the government. Rather, they were silent accomplices, fostering the "four-rate politics."

Today's South Korean politics is not simply the deviation of a few politicians, but a result of the distorted collective psychological structure of the entire nation. Fandom politics and tribalism are its roots. The public sees only what they want to see and believes only what they want to believe. This is no different from the scene described by George Orwell in *Animal Farm*. 'Our side's emotions' become more important than truth, 'incitement of hatred' is more effective than rational debate, and 'factional interests' take precedence over national interests.

Why do Fandom and Tribalism Destroy Nations?

In *Animal Farm*, Orwell depicts how power justifies its rule by exploiting the ignorance of the masses through the characters of Napoleon and Squealer the pigs. The other animals on the farm do not realize when the rules are manipulated before their eyes and when lies are repeated. This is because they believe 'the leader's word' as truth. Today's political landscape in Korea is no different.

The Democratic Party, immediately after seizing control of the National Assembly following the collapse of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, is creating its own *Animal Farm*. Abolishing the Court Administration Office, establishing the Judicial Administration Committee, increasing the number of Supreme Court justices, introducing a four-tier court system, establishing a dedicated court for sedition, attempting to abolish the prosecutor's office, and irresponsibly altering the structure of constitutional powers are all techniques of power concentration. The act of reshaping the constitution to 'defend against judicial risks' resembles the scene in *Animal Farm* where the Seven Commandments were subtly changed from "All animals are equal" to "But some animals are more equal than others."

The designation of "December 3rd" as a national holiday that only half the nation agrees with, a system that forces whistleblowing among citizens, and a series of actions that rationalize majority violence by inciting political anger are the epitome of collective self-deception warned by Orwell. Under the belief of 'the righteousness of our faction,' constitutionally destructive ideas are implemented without hesitation. When the public agrees, the abuse of power is disguised as 'justice' rather than abuse. In Orwell's view, this was the starting point of totalitarianism. That is what is happening in this land today.

Beyond Individual Politicians' Problems - The Entirety of Korean Politics is in a 'Psychological Illness State'

Former President Yoon's lack of self-control, his impetuous decisions, his stubborn demeanor in conversations with the public, and his regrettable tendency to blame subordinates when things didn't go his way can be seen as personal characteristics. However, he acted within the constitution and did not become president alone. Someone chose him. Why did they choose him? Because they believed he was the 'lesser evil.' Kim Keon-hee, before her husband's inauguration, intuitively sensed his strong inclination towards power in an interview with a journalist and warned those around her. Orwell viewed such psychology as "the masses willingly handing over their chains to the dictator."

More serious than the leader's issues is the collective psychological structure of the masses that enables the leader's arrogance. The greatest crisis in Korean politics today is not the problem of a few leaders, but the collapse of the upper echelons of public consciousness. Moral standards, national standards, and the criteria for viewing the constitutional order have all collapsed.

Why Politics Has Become Four-Rate: Idols Influence Morality and Judgment

The reason Korean politics is four-rate is 'not because they don't know.' It is because the public refuses and turns away from moral rearmament. This manifests in the following ways: corruption is not seen as corruption but as 'justice' when done by one's faction; actions by one's side are not illegal but 'reform'; it's a problem when the other side does it, but an exception for our side; the constitution exists only when attacking the opposing faction.

As these attitudes have accumulated over a long time, the entire political system has collapsed. This is exactly as George Orwell warned. When the masses abandon morality, power runs amok. Today, political madness, the breakdown of the rule of law, factional violence, media powerlessness, fanatical fandom, and the tribalistic dichotomy of pro- and anti- stances are all the results of moral decay.

The Greatest Crisis Facing This Nation Now: The 'Realization of Animal Farm'

Towards the end of Orwell's *Animal Farm*, the animals watch humans and pigs mingling and holding a banquet. "It was impossible to say whether they were men or pigs." How much does this resemble the current situation in Korea? With each change of administration, 'clearing out corruption' is shouted, justifying 'dictatorship of our faction.' Division among the people deepens, and the nation loses its direction. And politicians more cunningly and shamelessly violate morals and voice hatred. What we need now is not a change of government. What is needed is a change of consciousness, that is, moral rearmament.

Each and every citizen must break free from tribalism and fandom politics. Politicians should be viewed not as 'warriors of our side' but as 'public servants of the nation.' If we do not establish this standard, any leader we install will ultimately only give birth to a new *Animal Farm*.

For Korea to Stand Again, the Media Must Be Media

The Director of the U.S. FBI visited Korea and warned about the dangers of political violence and extremism, as well as the problems with using AWEB, but the Korean political sphere and media are turning a deaf ear. Korea is now on the brink of political and moral collapse. For us to stand again, we need the following:

We need moral rearmament that breaks from factionalism, fandom, and tribalism and restores national standards. We need a media that provides prior warnings rather than post-incident criticism, and that upholds objective reporting of facts that protect truth and democracy, rather than prioritizing political desires. We need the purification of the political market by respecting constitutional order, expelling low-quality politicians, and strengthening expert politics. We need a change in public consciousness that has the ability to objectively see reality as it is, not as we wish it to be. Politicians are mirrors. If the mirror is dirty, the faces of the people are dirty.

To avoid repeating *Animal Farm*, it is time for us to change the mirror. The last chance for Korea to rise again is approaching. Without a new civic consciousness that places morality and national interest at its center, this nation will forever be unable to escape a 'farm where the distinction between pigs and humans has disappeared.' The responsibility of the media and intellectuals, who colluded with power, is the greatest in the nation reaching this state.

Editorial Board Member, Director of the Korea Strategic Research Institute