US Democrats = Korea’s People Power Party? : The collapse of Anti-Lee and Anti-Trump Parties

At the end of last month, The National, a major daily in Scotland, reported on the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump with a front-page headline: “A convicted criminal from America has arrived in Scotland.” If this had happened in Korea, the public would likely have felt deeply embarrassed. Yet in reality, the side struggling in the U.S. is not Trump, but the Democratic Party, which has built itself around opposing Trump.

Recently, U.S. Democratic Party support has plunged to 29–33% despite Trump’s various blunders, hitting its lowest level in 30 years. Surveys show that Americans view the Democrats as a party with “no alternative vision other than opposing Trump.” Since their defeat in last year’s presidential election, the Democrats have floundered without generational change in leadership or a strategy for their next candidate, exposing only internal divisions.

Meanwhile, Trump—who has promoted 41-year-old Vice President J.D. Vance as his successor—relentlessly attacks former president Joe Biden, even six months into his own presidency. “It’s all Biden’s fault” has become his constant refrain. At 79, Trump plays golf energetically every week while continuously mocking the frailty of 83-year-old Biden. The Democrats, by contrast, only strengthen their image as an outdated party, clinging to Trump’s ankle with no vision for the future.

Even though Trump is the first U.S. president ever elected after a criminal conviction, he has secured leadership within the Republican Party. The Democrats attempted to counter this with a “morality” frame, emphasizing Trump’s guilt. But polls show that many voters believe “the Democrats themselves lack the credibility to criticize Trump.” The party brand has collapsed to the point where it is difficult to expect them to play even the basic role of an opposition party.

This situation uncannily mirrors what Korea’s People Power Party is experiencing, with its approval ratings also hitting record lows. Their politics have revolved almost entirely around highlighting judicial risks and shouting “Anti-Lee Jae-myung.” Even after a change in government, the new administration remains mired in “special prosecutor politics,” still struggling in the swamp of President Yoon Suk-yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee’s scandals.

U.S. Democratic pollsters and election strategists have offered advice: “Focus on issues like the economy, healthcare, and housing rather than ideology debates.” “Instead of excessive self-criticism, find leaders who take proactive action.” “Develop agendas closely tied to people’s lives and connect with voters.” These may sound like clichés, but both the U.S. Democrats—floundering in defeat despite facing a weak opponent—and Korea’s People Power Party are unlikely to regain presence anytime soon.

Both parties have proven that apart from hatred of their opponents, they have nothing substantive to present. That is why, from the public’s perspective, even judicial risks facing the president can be brushed aside. The result is obvious when a party shows no vision to the people: Trump and Lee Jae-myung are not succeeding because they are strong, but because the Democrats and the People Power Party are failing even more.