The Era of ‘Pandaem’: Politics Eaten by Fandoms
Korean politics is currently dominated by ‘Fandom Politics.’ Just as idols have fandoms, politicians have powerful fan clubs that exert absolute influence over party decisions.
The problem is that these fandoms have degenerated into blind worship and exclusive groups. They brand any criticism of their leader as ‘betrayal’ and indiscriminately attack opposing politicians or even members of their own party who have different opinions. This phenomenon, likened to a ‘Political Civil War,’ is shaking the very foundation of democracy.
The ‘Text Bomb’ and ‘Coordinate Attack’ Terror
The main weapon of fandom politics is Cyber Terror. If a politician makes a remark that goes against the fandom’s will, thousands of ‘text bombs’ are dropped instantly.
Attacks aimed at specific politicians (so-called ‘coordinate stamping’) paralyze normal legislative activities. Politicians, afraid of this, shut their mouths or engage in ‘code-matching’ remarks to look good to the fandom. A chilling effect has been created where rationality and conviction disappear, and only blind obedience remains.
The Collapse of Party Democracy
Political parties, which should be public organizations, are being privatized by specific fandoms.
In the process of electing party leadership or selecting candidates for elections (nominations), the influence of hardline party members (fandom) has become excessive, making it difficult for candidates representing the general public sentiment to be elected. As a result, parties are becoming radicalized, and moderate voices are losing their place. The parties have transformed into ‘fandom private organizations’ rather than ‘people’s parties.‘
The Vanishing of Policy and the Rampage of Hate
In the square of fandom politics, policy debates exist only in name.
Instead of fierce debates on how to solve urgent livelihood issues such as low birth rates, economic crisis, and real estate, only stimulation of hatred toward the other side is rampant. “We must kill them for us to live” is the logic of enemies, not partners. Politics has turned into a coliseum of hate, not a venue for problem-solving.
Politicians: Opportunists Riding on Fandoms
The primary responsibility lies with the politicians. Instead of mediating conflicts and integrating the public, they are busy using fandoms for their political interests.
They incite fandoms with provocative language to gather support and use them as guards to protect themselves. Even while knowing the harmful effects of fandom politics, they remain silent or encourage it for the sake of nomination and re-election. This is typical populism and a dereliction of duty by politicians.
YouTube Politics: The Algorithm of Confirmation Bias
YouTube and social media are fueling fandom politics.
Political YouTube channels produce stimulating content that tastes good to hardline supporters to increase views and super chats. Supporters are trapped in an ‘Echo Chamber’ where they only watch news they want to hear and believe, reinforcing their bias. This profit structure of hate further isolates factual truth.
The Deepening of Emotional Polarization
The psychological distance between supporters of the ruling and opposition parties has widened to an irreconcilable level.
It has gone beyond simply having different political opinions to a state of ‘Emotional Polarization’ where they dislike and despise each other as human beings. Conflict is arising even in everyday spaces like families, workplaces, and schools due to political issues. A society where we cannot live together as a community, this is the tragic portrait of Korea in 2025.
The Silence of the Moderates and the Crisis of Representation
As the noise of the loud minority (hardline fandom) grows, the silent majority (moderates) are turning away from politics.
Voters who feel fatigue from extreme confrontations give up voting or switch to being politically indifferent. As a result, the political sphere over-represents the opinions of the extreme minority and fails to represent the demands of the ordinary majority. This is a serious crisis of representative democracy.
Lessons from Overseas: Trumpism and Beyond
Fandom politics is not just a Korean phenomenon. We have already witnessed the threat to democracy through ‘Trumpism’ in the United States.
However, Korea’s fandom politics is developing in a more dynamic and aggressive form in combination with a unique digital culture. If left unchecked, we could face a catastrophe like the occupation of the Capitol.
The Need for Intra-Party Democracy and System Reform
To overcome fandom politics, we must restore democracy within parties.
We need to reorganize the nomination system so that the voices of general citizens, not just hardline party members, are reflected in a balanced way. We need a system that prevents specific factions from monopolizing the party and respects diverse opinions.
The Role of Media and Civil Society
The role of the media is also important. They must stop the practice of engaging in ‘click journalism’ that relays the extreme remarks of politicians and fandoms, and focus on policy verification.
Civil society must also monitor fandom politics and cultivate a political culture of tolerance and dialogue. We need a civic movement that says “No” to hate speech.
Conclusion: Towards a Politics of Coexistence
Democracy is a system that assumes differences. Acknowledging that “I can be wrong and the other person can be right” is the starting point of democracy.
We must break the shackles of fandom politics and move towards a ‘Politics of Coexistence.’ Politicians must have the courage to fear the public, not the fandom. Voters also need the wisdom to distinguish between being a healthy supporter and a blind follower. If we do not stop the runaway locomotive of hate now, the terminal station will be the ruin of democracy.
