우리나라 정치적 양극화의 현황과 해법

Polarization, which means that things are becoming more and more different and distant from each other, primarily signifies the emergence of disparities across various societal domains. Social polarization, in the (social) sense, traditionally centered around economic environments as signs of national loss of control and deepening social inequality, has now become synonymous with a societal pathology encompassing all social issues, frequently cited both as a cause and consequence of social conflict. Political polarization has been considered a phenomenon unique to the United States or its political culture and has been a longstanding field of study in American political science. However, it is now recognized as a globally common political issue, particularly seen as one of the most serious threats to democracy, affecting not only European countries with longstanding democratic traditions but also various specific countries and political environments worldwide, including South Korea. In South Korea, as in many places, various forms of polarization are evident, with political polarization being arguably the most severe, characterized by intense opposition and conflict within the political sphere. While ideological polarization among political elites has persistently worsened, ideological polarization at the mass level is less pronounced. The issue of political polarization at the mass level in South Korea primarily manifests as emotional polarization. Various viewpoints are proposed regarding solutions to reduce political polarization.