Nationalistic Tendency in Foreign Policy

It appears that the first elected 138 lawmakers of local constituencies in the 17th National Assembly have a distinctive nationalistic tendency in relation to foreign policy.

In particular, they show a clear inclination of preferring China in foreign policy matters, with 55 percent saying that China is “the country which should be taken into serious consideration,” while 44.8 percent said the same of the U.S.

This was revealed in a verbal and written survey conducted by the Dong-a Ilbo, a research team led by Mo Jong-ryn of the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University and the Asian Foundation. Together, they carried out the survey, polling the 243 elected lawmakers of the 17th National Assembly.

In contrast, the poll showed that 58.5 percent of 105 lawmakers of the local constituencies who were elected more than twice before the 16th National Assembly answered, “The U.S. is the most important.”

Even 94.9 percent of first-time electees supported appeasement policies such as economic aid for the solution of the North Korean nuclear crisis. This figure is much higher than the one for the group of those lawmakers more than twice, 88 percent.

A large proportion, 88.5 percent, of newly elected lawmakers showed approval of the revision of the National Security Law.

Along with this, 35.9 percent of them also answered that their policy line is progressive or mid-progressive, much higher than the 26.8 percent of reelected lawmakers who answered their policies were progressive.

Meanwhile, it appears that the first group is more policy-making expertised and more varied in its areas of expertise than the second group, with 24.4 percent holding doctorates and 10.9 percent with majors in science.

But in terms of globalization experience, the experience level of the first group appeared to be comparatively lower, with 43.3 percent of the group having experience studying abroad, working in the international arena and working abroad, compared to 56.1 percent of the second group having similar international experience.

Sung-Won Park swpark@donga.com