Analysis: South Korea's political extremism to grow
South Korea is experiencing a surge in political extremism among its youth and a significant change in foreign policy will not be far behind.
Significance. South Korea is experiencing a surge in political extremism among its youth, driven by economic frustration, social disillusionment, and digital radicalization. This development will reshape domestic politics and extend to foreign policy, challenging long-standing alliances and strategic positions. The increasing polarization will affect decision-making on North Korea, U.S. relations, and regional stability, necessitating close attention from policymakers and diplomats.
Analysis. South Korea’s Generation Z faces unprecedented socio-economic challenges. Individuals of the “N-Po Generation” have abandoned traditional life milestones due to economic hardship, stagnant wages, and the housing crisis. Youth unemployment is at its highest in five years, leading to frustration with the current system. As faith in mainstream parties declines, many young people are turning to extremist ideologies, with rising engagement in both far-right and far-left activism. The internet, particularly platforms like Ilbe and radical progressive forums, fosters ideological echo chambers, accelerating radicalization.
As economic pressures persist, political extremism will intensify. The far-right will continue to mobilize against perceived threats such as feminism, immigration, and progressivism, while the far-left will push for more radical economic and social reforms. These movements will gain political traction, influencing policy debates and disrupting traditional governance. Street protests, online mobilization, and even political violence will increase as young people seek direct action to supplement electoral participation. Established parties will struggle to address this shift, leading to greater instability in governance.
Mainstream media has highlighted generational economic struggles and growing dissatisfaction but has underreported the direct link between economic disenfranchisement and political radicalization. While media outlets focus on sensational incidents—such as misogynistic attacks from far-right youth groups or labor protests from far-left activists—they often fail to contextualize these events within broader systemic failures. Furthermore, reporting often avoids acknowledging how radicalization is growing across both ends of the spectrum, instead focusing selectively on individual groups.
Political extremism will lead to a reassessment of South Korea’s foreign policy stance. The far-left’s growing influence will push for a more conciliatory approach toward North Korea, challenging conservative security policies and alliance commitments with the U.S. Meanwhile, the far-right will advocate for increased militarization and economic nationalism, straining diplomatic relations with China and Japan. Both approaches face major hurdles under the Trump Administration. This polarization will create inconsistent foreign policy approaches, making South Korea a less predictable regional player. Additionally, as traditional party structures weaken, emerging radical movements will gain influence, potentially disrupting diplomatic continuity.
One area of growing and coalescing interest in both left and right Gen-Z extremism is North Korea. For the left, it represents the traditional Korean ethnic nationalist tropes, and for the right it represents nationalist consolidation and expansion. This has in the past seen the presentation of unification with North Korea as an opportunity in the early 1990s and mid-2000s. This has recently been revived in extremist thought on both left and right, albeit for different reasons. This is yet to catch on with thinkers connected to chaebol (conglomerate) interests or enter mainstream politics. However, the need for the youth swing vote in electoral politics could see the topic again enter mainstream politics.
Impact. In the immediate term, increased domestic instability will manifest in protests and political clashes. In the short term, radical groups will influence policy debates, leading to fragmented governance and an increased turn towards populism in electoral politics. Over the medium term, shifting ideological commitments will alter South Korea’s diplomatic strategy, challenging U.S. and regional alliances. In the long term, political extremism will subside. As younger generations more able to recognize misinformation move into more influential positions, online radicalization will decrease.