Lee Jun-seok, the former leader of the People Power Party, and Yoon Suk Yeol, the party’s presidential candidate, finished their ’chicken and beer meeting’ at the ’Righteous Chicken GunDae Station Branch’ in Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Afterward, they strolled down the GunDae street, chatting and holding hands. Although they briefly joined forces to secure a victory in the presidential election, the two are currently in a strained relationship. Photo by 고려.

"Red Team" Role in Politics: The Need for Constructive Adversaries in Korea's Political Landscape

By Byung Kee Park

Seoul, South Korea — In an era of fast-paced technological advancements and geopolitical shifts, the 'Red Team(ing),' a cybersecurity term, concept has risen to prominence. Initially coined in the 1960s in the United States, the term "Red Teaming" refers to a group acting as an adversarial force within an organization, mimicking the actions of potential adversaries to strengthen the organization's defenses. 

Today, it is not just limited to the cybersecurity and defense sectors but has found its place in politics, particularly in South Korea.

In a recent appearance on KBS-TV's "The Live," Park Sung-min, a noted political consultant in Korea, stressed the imperative need for a Red Team within the People Power Party. He further underscored that Lee Jun-seok should lead this hypothetical team.

Park emphasizes that politicians, especially the President of a nation, should steer clear of the counsel of those who:

1. Harbor intense hatred or anger towards specific individuals,
2. Exhibit an excessive partisan bias leading to confirmation bias, and
3. Advise for personal gains rather than organizational benefits.

According to Park, heeding advice from individuals possessing even one of the above characteristics can harm any organization. A salient point he made was his concern about the proximity of individuals displaying all three attributes to President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Elaborating further, Park noted that listening to individuals who actively propagate divisive narratives, such as ousting figures like Lee Jun-seok or Ahn Cheol-soo, can be harmful. He also cautioned against heeding the words of radical supporters and hyper-conservative YouTubers captured by their confirmation biases. Lastly, Park stressed that those with vested interests are not genuinely advising the President but rather exploiting him for their gains.

This all culminates in Park's core analysis: President Yoon's inner circle lacks genuine allies.

The political arena is rife with speculations surrounding Lee Jun-seok and Yoo Seung-min possibly founding a new party. Should they leave, it is predicted that the support from moderate conservatives will wane, potentially leading to a significant decline in the approval ratings for both the 'People Power Party and President Yoon.

In a recent episode of MBN's "Morning & Maeil Economy," Kim Min-soo, a spokesperson for People Power Party, stated that the party's approval ratings might rise by 3-4% if Lee Jun-seok departs. However, this perspective is not widely shared within the party, with many dismissing it as misguided.

The internal dynamics of the People Power Party suggest two predominant viewpoints: one echoing Park Sung-min's sentiment on the need for a Red Team and the other viewing figures like Lee Jun-seok as detrimental.

Political experts posit that if the People Power Party continually ignores Lee Jun-seok's and Yoo Seung-min's advice, the party could face a severe defeat in the upcoming elections. A significant concern is the potential breaking of the "200-seat line" in the National Assembly, which corresponds to two-thirds of the assembly's 300 seats. If parties aligned with the Democratic Party clinch over 200 seats, it could lead to a unilateral political landscape.

In the current political environment, approximately 30% staunchly support the People Power Party, and another 30% firmly back the Democratic Party, leaving 40% as the moderate swing vote. Analysts believe that to win over this critical 40%, figures like Lee Jun-seok and Yoo Seung-min must remain within the People Power Party to counterbalance the Democratic Party's potential dominance.

Yoo Seung-min and Lee Jun-seok hinted at the possibility of founding a new party, depending on how the People Power Party reforms itself. The coming months will undoubtedly be pivotal in shaping the trajectory of South Korean politics.