OPINION: South Korean politics faces perpetual crisis as debate and compromise disappear

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - South Korea's political system is currently severely dysfunctional. Politics is meant to be the art of discussion, negotiation, and compromise. However, this essential process is missing today. The country's two major parties have normalized the dangerous practices of "deciding without discussion" and "acting without debate," neglecting their role as representatives of the people. This procedural destruction undermines public trust.

The biggest issue is the absence of a functioning decision-making structure in the National Assembly. Laws are prioritized for speed over thorough debate, and party interests often outweigh public opinion. Policies hastily enacted are frequently reversed when political circumstances shift. This cycle of self-negation reflects the current reality of South Korean politics.

Political parties are also to blame. They should be forums for debate, but have long lost this function. Meetings are held with predetermined conclusions, and leadership enforces positions based on "political loyalty," ignoring individual expertise and silencing representatives. This results in politicians who merely follow party directives, further weakening politics.

This structure undermines policy consistency and effectiveness. Laws born from partisan power struggles are repealed with each change in administration, creating uncertainty that leaves government without direction and businesses without the ability to plan ahead. Over time, this instability erodes national competitiveness.

This structure threatens the consistency and effectiveness of government policies. Laws created through power struggles between parties are repealed with each change in administration, leaving the government directionless and businesses unable to plan. Such shifts could eventually weaken national competitiveness.

To normalize politics, robust debate must be restored. Without it, policies risk becoming mere political bargains, and laws turn into tools of partisan control. The current structure, where conclusions are forced upon the National Assembly, solves nothing.

Politics must open its doors to diverse opinions and expand public discourse. Though slower, such a pace is a healthy sign of democracy. Strengthening internal party democracy is essential for political normalization. This requires transparent procedures, reform of unilateral decision-making, and enhancement of individual expertise and accountability. When parties become forums for debate, the National Assembly can function properly again.

The problem is not confined to one faction or group. The entire political system has learned the wrong way to operate, undermining the basic order of national governance. Meanwhile, citizens suffer from political strife, policies drift, and the nation stands still.

Politics is ultimately about creating legitimate outcomes through discussion, negotiation, and compromise. The harm of skipping this process must not be repeated. Politics that ignores process, abandons debate, and rejects compromise will ultimately destroy itself. What is needed now is not grand slogans but the restoration of politics' most basic functions. Ignoring this simple truth will trap South Korean politics in perpetual crisis.

* This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI.

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