단상斷想

George Orwell's [Animal Farm] is an immortal allegory depicting the corruption of power and the betrayal of revolution. The story of animals who drove out the farmer and proclaimed the ideal that "all animals are equal," but eventually a new dictator, Napoleon, emerges and establishes a more cunning ruling system, reveals the harsh truth of real politics. From the perspective of the Korean people looking at the People Power Party today, there is an analysis that the structural patterns of this novel are being reproduced in a surprisingly similar way.

The recent power structure changes within the People Power Party draw an interesting parallel with the power succession process in Animal Farm. Just as Napoleon ousted Snowball and reigned as the absolute ruler of the farm in Animal Farm, Jang Dong-hyuk's rise is interpreted as the result of winning the competition with the existing forces. The point to note is the critical view that these changes are merely a reorganization of power, not a true innovation. Although an existing politician named Kim Moon-soo stepped down and a new figure emerged, the key point is that it shows a more extreme form rather than a fundamental change in political inclination or support base. This is considered a similar pattern to Napoleon becoming an even more brutal dictator after driving out the farm owner. Kim Moon-soo's departure may have seemed like a change on the surface. But the reality that the people see is different. The icon of the old guard has stepped down, but only a more cunning and far-right ruler has taken his place. This is a direct reproduction of the truth shown by Animal Farm - the bitter lesson that power always creates a new dictator.

In Orwell's works, Squealer was a propagandist who rationalized all of Napoleon's policies and persuaded the animals. He always justified the actions of those in power, saying, 'Comrade Napoleon is sacrificing himself for you.' Within the People Power Party today, there are forces playing a similar role. They attempt to persuade the public by packaging controversial policies or appointments with rhetoric such as 'party reform,' 'defense of democracy,' and 'a choice for the nation.' The core of the criticism is that this propaganda logic is particularly at work regarding sensitive issues related to insurrection or the appointment of far-right politicians. Just as Squealer justified Napoleon's dictatorship by touting the 'prosperity of Animal Farm,' there is a view that, in reality, the concentration of power is being justified under the pretext of 'for the people.'

The most symbolic scene in Animal Farm is the transformation from the principle of 'All animals are equal' to 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.' This vividly illustrates a betrayal beyond revolution. The current critical view of the People Power Party has a similar structure. The discrepancy between the official values of 'politics for the people' and 'defense of democracy' and actual political behavior is being pointed out. In particular, the process of acquiring power by relying on the support of far-right forces or specific religious groups raises questions about genuine national representation, which is the key point. This is the same for the Democratic Party. The only way to fix the human world where voters are equal, but the elected are allowed to reign above equality with a sense of superiority, is to make elected politicians unpaid. To have people who want to serve the people provide political service, without giving even a hint of vested interests. Providing compensatory entertainment to politicians at the expense of the people, as it is now, is also a bad national characteristic that brings about a vicious cycle of politics.

In Animal Farm, Napoleon maintained power through dogs (secret police) and sheep (blind supporters). The dogs suppressed the opposition with violence, and the sheep blindly repeated the slogan 'Four legs good, two legs bad,' blocking critical thinking. In reality, the People Power Party's support base relies more on the solidarity of a specific group than on genuine national consensus. Supporters based on far-right ideologies or specific religious beliefs tend to show blind support rather than critical reflection. This raises concerns that it could weaken healthy political debate and checks and balances.

In the ending of Animal Farm, the other animals eventually become unable to distinguish between the pigs and the humans, and they realize their situation. This symbolically shows that the nature of power has not changed. In reality, it seems that the political awakening of the people has not been achieved. The perception that 'an icon of old politics has stepped down, but an even more extreme figure has taken his place' is spreading, but a quiet but definite realization is needed for the demand for real change to grow. This is possible only when a national consensus is formed on the need for fundamental change, not formal replacement.

Orwell's Animal Farm vividly depicts how power corrupts and how the people (animals) are deceived in the process. The reason why this work is still read as a valid political allegory today is that the nature of power is repeated beyond time and place. Politics with genuine national representation, checks and balances of power, and the establishment of a transparent and accountable political culture are urgent tasks. Everyone knows that history ultimately judges the arrogance of power and the deception of the people. However, a quiet but certain transformation must take place through the awakening of the public, rather than after many sacrifices. The current political situation will also have to be overcome through the awakening of the people and the restoration of democratic values. Beyond the problems of a specific political party, it is time to demand fundamental reflection for the maturity and development of Korean politics.

The people now ridicule this farm. There is overflowing mockery saying, "What qualifications does a representative elected by the votes of the far-right and religion have to represent the people? The People Power Party is not the power of the people, but only the power of blind faith and power." We must first realize that the ridicule towards them is ridicule towards ourselves who voted for them. Their political stage is no longer a serious arena for national management, but a stage for satire. Just as the pigs changed the sentence "All animals are equal" to "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal" by changing the letters, the People Power Party mentions democracy but in reality creates a reality where "All citizens are respected, but the powerful and their supporters are more respected."