[Column by No Dong-il] The Public Must Be Made to Understand the Fear of Public Opinion

Public sentiment is ever-changing. As the saying goes, it can shift from morning to evening. That means it is fickle, but it also means it is highly sensitive. Public sentiment is also fearsome. The people are water, and the ruler is a boat. Water can keep a boat afloat, but it can also capsize it. Even if rulers and politicians are not the same, they must both fear public opinion.
The June 3 local elections are just around the corner. Early voting begins on Friday, the 29th. This election cycle is a textbook case for understanding how sensitive and how powerful public sentiment can be. Before the campaign entered full swing, a Democratic Party of Korea victory seemed all but certain. Public sentiment toward the People Power Party (PPP) was cold. The party still seemed unable to recover from the shock of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration, impeachment, and defeat in the presidential election.
The PPP could not find its footing, caught between so-called Yoon Again forces and those who argued the party should be reborn through an apology and self-reflection over martial law. The Jang Dong-hyuk leadership, backed by hard-line supporters, focused on internal purges rather than attacks on the government. It became absorbed in moves that were difficult to understand rationally, including expelling former leader Han Dong-hoon and disciplining pro-Han lawmakers. It was hard to believe the party could act that way with an election so close. Public opinion naturally turned away from a leadership that fueled internal strife and ignored the public's gaze. Even within conservative circles, calls emerged for the party leader to step down.
As the saying goes, when the moon is full, it begins to wane. The ruling party's excessive confidence, or arrogance, triggered a reversal in public opinion. A 15-to-1 outcome. The early chorus predicting Democratic Party victories in all metropolitan and provincial governor races except North Gyeongsang rang out far too soon. As disappointed conservative and right-wing voters were seen likely to stay home, more and more observers began forecasting a win for the progressive and left-leaning camp. The ruling party's overreach likely stemmed from that same atmosphere. Just as with the opposition, its behavior ahead of the election was baffling enough to make people wonder how it could act that way at such a critical moment.
I believe the first sign of defying public sentiment was the lawmakers' meeting held to push for withdrawal of prosecution. At the time, I said a backlash would follow. Even if the opposition is disorganized and approval ratings look favorable, there are things that should not be done. Is it not common sense that there is no need to stir up already settled muddy water? Through the Investigation of State Administration and confirmation hearings held to build momentum for withdrawal of prosecution, no evidence emerged to support claims of fabricated indictments, yet the ruling party paid no attention. There was even a remark dismissing the public, saying most people would not even know what withdrawal of prosecution meant.
On April 30, the DPK introduced the Special Prosecutor Act on Fabricated Indictments under the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration, which would give the special prosecutor authority to withdraw prosecutions. That would effectively neutralize the judicial system, which is supposed to correct claims of fabricated indictments through courtroom battles. It also raises conflict-of-interest concerns, since the party would appoint the special prosecutor who would decide on withdrawal of prosecution in Lee Jae-myung's case. Public sentiment is not favorable. In a Gallup Korea Research Institute poll released on May 15, opposition to granting the special prosecutor withdrawal-of-prosecution powers stood at 44 percent, far above support at 27 percent.
There was a reason why Kim Boo-kyum, the DPK candidate running for mayor of Daegu, said on the 3rd that "a single careless remark or one bill can end up abandoning comrades who are struggling in the field," and stressed the need for cautious language and polished messaging. Daegu is precisely the kind of place where changes in public sentiment can be felt in real time. The Blue House's call on the 4th for careful review of the special prosecutor bill and its move to slow the pace were also steps taken with public opinion in mind. Unlike the decision last November to halt the Trial Suspension Act, this did not deny the need for a special prosecutor itself. Some observers say the rush was driven by the fear that if DPK leader Jung Cheong-rae were re-elected after the local elections, it would become harder to pass a withdrawal-of-prosecution bill. This could become a major issue in the local elections.
In any case, many regions are now seen as battlegrounds where ruling and opposition candidates are locked in close contests. This may no longer be a one-sided election. A single vote has become meaningful and important enough to affect the result. Any voter thinking of skipping the polls because the outcome is supposedly already decided should think again. Local elections usually see lower turnout than presidential or general elections, but this time, one vote may carry a particularly strong sense of impact.
Local elections are meant to choose capable workers for a given region. But they are also a path for nurturing true leaders and politicians. They build the basic strength needed to coordinate complex local issues and lay the foundation for the future. They are also a place to hone the ability to connect local concerns with a long-term national vision. People should go to the polls to encourage, check, support, or punish. Politicians must learn that the claim that public sentiment is sensitive and fearsome is not a cliché. "Bad politicians are elected by good citizens who do not vote."
dinoh7869@fnnews.com Reporter