[The Future of Korean Democracy and Institutional Reform] The “Silent” Centrist: Political Passivity and Polarization of the Middle Ground
Working Paper
Won-Taek Kang | 2025-03-24
Won-Taek Kang, Director of the Institute for Future Strategy at Seoul National University and Chair of EAI`s Democracy Research Center, investigates the role of “silent moderates” amid South Korea’s intensifying political polarization. While public discourse is increasingly shaped by vocal extremes, Kang identifies a substantial centrist bloc whose low political efficacy and limited engagement hinder its influence. Drawing on empirical data, he argues that this imbalance distorts democratic deliberation and radicalizes public perception. Kang calls for institutional reforms to ensure that the perspectives of the moderate and rational majority are better represented in the democratic deliberative process.