South Korean president Moon Jae-in is often referred to as “liberal.” That’s not quite right: It’s more that he’s left-wing. Moon, presiding over an administration stacked with officials who are fairly sympathetic to the decidedly illiberal regime north of the 38th parallel, has implemented a traditionally left-wing economic program. He’s hiked government spending and spearheaded a major boost to the minimum wage. Moon, quite rightly, also wants to tame the power of the Chaebol, the massive conglomerates like Hyundai and Samsung that have a disproportionate control of the Korean economy—and Korean society.
Yet Moon marries left-wing economics with the social conservatism that is still de rigueur in South Korea. During the country’s presidential campaign last year, he came out against gay soldiers and even went to so far as to state that he “opposes” homosexuality in general. And unlike other left-wing leaders across the globe, Moon evinces hostility to immigration. That position may not play in Davos—but it does in Daegu.
