On June 3, South Korea held its 21st presidential election, resulting in the election of Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung. His victory followed months of political turmoil triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment.
The nation's political landscape remains sharply divided between the liberal Democratic Party of Korea and the conservative People Power Party. This polarization has extended beyond politics and into personal relationships. A recent debate on a popular Korean online community questioned whether individuals can date someone with opposing political views.
This discussion has gained much traction given the recent presidential election. Many netizens argue that political beliefs are an integral part of one's identity, making it hard to maintain a relationship with those who hold opposite views.
Netizens discussion
"I can’t date someone who voted for candidate #2 or #4. They seem like they’d commit a crime."
"I don’t talk politics with my partner in the first place… We’ve been together for 4 years, and although we’ve mentioned Yoon, we never talked about the election."
"Just don’t date them. Why waste time and emotions?"
"Political leaning is the most basic thing. If that doesn’t match, nothing else will."
"Absolutely not."
"Can’t do it."
"Of course."
"No matter what, I really can’t date a person who voted for #4."
"It’s not just about political color. It’s a fundamental difference in ideology, so I can’t do it."
"Yeah, absolutely not."
"You can date someone with different views, but if they’re too extreme, I don’t think I could, even if we lean in the same direction."
"My relationship is exactly like that… we’re just managing."
"These days, political stance is so closely tied to your values. If that doesn’t align, probably nothing else does either."
"I don’t even want to be acquaintances."
"Yeah, I can’t date guys who voted for Lee Jun Seok. My dad told me never to date those kinds of people. He said their ideology is corrupted and not to bring anyone like that home."
"I seriously find it repulsive."
"Ugh, I really hate it. It’s obvious. They show it in how they act and speak. You can tell just from a short conversation."
"Political stance is connected to your entire view on society, economy, and culture. There’s no way that only your political view is different while everything else matches."
"It’s not just a different political stance. People who voted for #2 or #4 supported martial law and a dictatorship. How can you date that?"
"If political or religious views don’t align, I can’t date them. It’s a difference in values."
"Absolutely not. How can a descendant of independence fighters live with someone who worships pro-Japanese collaborators?"
"Yeah, I realized how important it is this time."
"I wouldn’t even want to be friends, let alone date."
"Ideological differences are huge. That’s what shapes someone’s tendencies."
"It’s fine if both people can respect each other’s stance."
What is your opinion on this topic? Let us know in the comments below!
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