Korean elections and voters in the transition to democracy, 1985-1992

Abstract

This thesis examines the process by which Korean voters come to their voting decision, especially in the era of democratic transition (1985-1992). The main focus of this study is on the political cleavage structures that have led Korean voters to choose one party over the others in elections. By analysing two sets of sample survey data, which cover the elections in the period of democratic transition, it attempts to unravel the nature of the two main dimensions of political cleavage: that is, the urban-rural and regional differences in electoral support, which are in essence descriptions of vote distribution at the aggregate level. The impact of changes in the party system on the voters during this period is discussed with reference first to the patterns of movement of voters across the subsequent elections and second to the patterns of voter alignment on the two main dimensions. In general, the movements of voters were quite stable along the line of government versus opposition. Patterns in electoral support along the urban-rural dimension depict ‘continuity’ across the elections, whereas patterns in electoral support based on regionalism suggest ‘change’ as much as ‘continuity.’ The past cleavage of regime versus pro-democratic support, which was often reflected in urban-rural differences in electoral support, is found to consist more of differences in socialisation. The different composition of socialisation variables, age and education in particular, between urban and rural areas accounts for the yocK on yado (government-rural, opposition-urban) phenomenon. The regional differences in voting, which appeared as a new (and most important) political cleavage in the elections of this period, are mainly due to ‘personalism.’ The voters, who heavily rely on personality factors for their voting decision, seem to have used the regional traits of the candidates and their parties for the evaluations of candidates most importantly. This thesis argues that voter alignment along regional lines - lines which are vertically drawn rather than cross-cutting; highly personalised and emotioncharged rather than interest oriented; and which exhibit a centrifugal tendency - may hinder democratic stability based on the presidential system of government. Moreover, it would be unfortunate if the current pattem of regional alignment entails the permanent exclusion of some population from political power. For the formation of a more responsive political system, more care is needed for the political actors and the voters alike. Given the ideological rigidity of the society on the Right-Left continuum, the converting of the old pro-government versus pro-democratic cleavage into a conservative versus liberal framework, and, further, the rendering of the converted cleavage to a central place in electoral competition, can be a viable option in the foreseeable future if the presidential system in Korea continues to prosper. Show more