The parallel theory of Cho Kuk and Han Dong-Hoon… If they lose the by-elections, the ... - 경향신문
khan.co.kr
Two rival politicians mirror each other's fate in South Korea's by-elections — a textbook case of how zero-sum competition shapes political survival and identity.
Zero-Sum Game TheoryPolitical PolarizationSocial Identity TheoryProspect Theory
Theory Briefing
- Cho Kuk and Han Dong-Hoon are both staking their presidential ambitions on the June 3rd by-elections, making defeat existential for each.
- Their parallel rise follows a zero-sum logic: one's gain in public legitimacy directly erodes the other's political capital.
- As campaign intensity grows, both figures are being shaped less by policy and more by rivalry itself — a classic in-group/out-group dynamic.