The New Leaders of DPK and PPP: What Will This Mean for Korea’s Political Future

South Korean politics is entering a phase of heightened instability marked by intensified polarization, leadership conflicts, and deteriorating institutional trust. The impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk-yeol and subsequent early presidential election have deepened partisan confrontation rather than easing it. Newly elected party leaders—Jung Cheong-rae and Jang Dong-hyuk—symbolize a shift toward more confrontational, zero-sum politics, driving legislative deadlock and escalating battles over institutional reform. Despite the public perception of severe inter-party conflict, informal communication between floor leaders continues, enabling limited bipartisan cooperation on key social and welfare legislation. Nonetheless, both political blocs face structural vulnerabilities: conservatives struggle with factional fragmentation, while progressives risk overextension amid heightened expectations. This issue brief argues that Korea’s democratic stability is increasingly challenged by adversarial political dynamics. Without renewed leadership and mechanisms for sustained bipartisan engagement, the country may face prolonged governance paralysis and deeper institutional polarization.