왜 한국 정치는 탄젠트 곡선만 닮아갈까?

인생은 사인 곡선인데, 왜 한국 정치는 탄젠트 곡선만 닮아갈까?

얼마 전 오랜만에 긴 거리를 묵묵히 걸어갈 일이 있었습니다. 
발은 조금 아팠지만, 혼자 길을 걸으며 이런저런 생각을 하다가 삶의 이치에 대해 깊이 고찰해 보게 되었습니다.
우리는 흔히 "인생은 사인(Sine)과 코사인(Cosine) 곡선과 같다"는 말을 하곤 합니다.
수학 시간에 배운 삼각함수 그래프를 떠올려 보면 참 절묘한 비유입니다. 
사인과 코사인은 가장 높은 정점(1)을 찍으면 서서히 내려오고, 가장 깊은 바닥(-1)을 치면 다시 힘을 내어 올라갑니다. 오르막이 있으면 내리막이 있고, 영원한 성공도 영원한 실패도 없다는 인생의 진리를 수학이 고스란히 증명해 주는 셈입니다

 

아무리 요동쳐도 결국 가운데 중심축(0)을 기준으로 균형을 잡는 상식적인 곡선이지요.

그런데 문득 이런 생각이 머리를 스쳤습니다."왜 대한민국 민주주의와 정치는 이 아름다운 사인·코사인 곡선을 외면한 채, 오직 '탄젠트(Tangent) 곡선'만 바라보고 있는 걸까?"

수학에서 탄젠트 곡선은 완전히 다른 모양을 가집니다. 중심을 지나 완만하게 가는가 싶더니, 어느 순간 수직으로 끝도 없이 솟구치거나(양의 무한대), 반대로 끝도 없이 추락(음의 무한대)해 버립니다. 중간이 없고, 타협이 없으며, 결국에는 파멸로 치닫는 극단의 곡선입니다. [1.1]지금 우리의 한국 정치가 딱 이 탄젠트 곡선을 닮아 있습니다.

 

첫째, '전부 아니면 전무(All or Nothing)'의 극단적 양극화입니다.정치적 타협과 조율을 통해 완만한 곡선을 만드는 상생의 정치는 '나약함'이나 '배신'으로 낙인찍힙니다. 내가 살기 위해 상대를 철저히 부숴야 한다는 승자독식 구조 속에서, 정치인들은 지지층을 결집하기 위해 탄젠트처럼 끝을 보는 극단적인 언행만 쏟아냅니다. 중간지대는 사라지고 사회는 양극단으로 찢어지고 있습니다.

 

둘째, 당장 눈앞의 자극만 쫓는 조급증입니다.사인과 코사인은 멀리 보고 넓게 가야 비로소 아름다운 주기가 보입니다. 국가의 백년대계나 사회적 합의가 그렇습니다. 하지만 우리 정치는 당장 눈앞의 선거, 몇 달 뒤의 지지율에만 목을 맵니다. 

탄젠트 곡선처럼 단기간에 지지율을 폭발적으로 끌어올릴 수 있는 자극적인 이슈와 포퓰리즘에만 몰두하는 이유입니다.

 

셋째, 중심(0)을 잡는 평형감각의 상실입니다.사회가 건강하려면 중심을 잡아주는 상식적인 국민들의 목소리, 즉 중간지대가 탄탄해야 합니다. 하지만 지금의 정치는 국민을 편 가르기 하여 탄젠트의 날카로운 직선처럼 사회를 갈라놓고 있습니다.

탄젠트 곡선의 가장 무서운 점이 무엇인지 아십니까?

끝없이 치솟아 붕 뜬 것 같지만, 결국에는 더 이상 넘어갈 수 없는 '보이지 않는 벽(점근선)'에 부딪혀 흔적도 없이 끊어져 버린다는 것입니다.

 

지금 당장 권력을 잡고 탄젠트처럼 폭주하는 이들이 반드시 기억해야 할 수학적 진리입니다.

정치가 해야 할 진짜 역할은 우리 사회의 갈등을 사인과 코사인처럼 예측 가능하고 안전한 범위 안으로 수렴시키는 것입니다.

오늘도 묵묵히 제 갈 길을 걸으며 정직하게 살아가는 평범한 국민들의 혜안이, 언젠가 이 탄젠트 같은 폭주 정치를 사인·코사인 같은 상식과 공존의 정치로 되돌려 놓기를 간절히 바라봅니다.

 

0(Zero)을 모르는 한국 정치, 1과 2의 해괴한 이진법에는 해(답)가 없다
우리가 매일 사용하는 컴퓨터와 인공지능(AI)은 오직 '0'과 '1'이라는 두 가지 숫자로만 세상의 모든 복잡한 연산을 해냅니다. 

전기가 꺼진 상태(0)와 켜진 상태(1)의 조합으로 가장 정교하고 합리적인 '해답'을 찾아내는 것이 바로 이진법의 원리입니다.
데카르트는 **"Cogito, ergo sum(나는 생각한다, 고로 존재한다)"**이라고 했습니다. 

인간은 맹목적인 현상에 의문을 품고 스스로 사유할 때 비로소 존재 가치를 지닌다는 뜻일 겁니다. 

그런 의미에서 오늘날 우리네 정치 현실을 깊이 사유해 보다 보니, 참으로 서글픈 결론에 도달하게 됩니다.

"한국 정치는 0이 없고, 1과 2만 존재하는 해괴한 이진법을 쓰고 있구나. 

그래서 아무리 연산을 돌려도 답이 안 나오는구나."

 

1. 한국 정치에는 '0(비우기)'이 없다
컴퓨터에서 '0'은 무(無)이자 리셋(Reset), 즉 모든 것을 비우고 처음으로 돌아가는 '제로 베이스'를 의미합니다. 

갈등이 극에 달했을 때, 잠시 기득권을 내려놓고 백지 상태에서 다시 논의할 수 있는 공간이 바로 '0'입니다.
하지만 한국 정치의 1번(거대 여당)과 2번(거대 야당)에게는 이 '0'이라는 숫자가 존재하지 않습니다. 

이미 자신들의 이익과 진영 논리로 가득 차 있어서, 단 한 걸음도 양보하거나 비우려 하지 않습니다.

 '0'이 없는 연산 장치는 결국 과부하로 멈춰 서기 마련입니다.

 

2. 통합이 아닌 '편가르기'의 번호표, 기호 1번과 2번
본래 선거의 정당 기호는 국민들이 투표하기 편하도록 만든 단순한 식별 번호였습니다. 하지만 언제부턴가 이 번호는 국민을 반으로 쪼개는 '거대한 성벽'이자 '정치적 낙인'이 되었습니다.
거대 양당은 1번과 2번을 독점한 채, 국가의 미래를 위한 정책 경쟁 대신 "저쪽(1번/2번)이 잡으면 나라가 망한다"는 증오와 공포 마케팅에만 몰두합니다.

선거가 끝나도 국민 통합은커녕, "우리 편이면 무조건 옳고 네 편이면 무조건 틀리다"는 극단적인 진영 논리와 편가르기만 남는 이유가 여기에 있습니다.

 

3. 서로를 '0'으로 만들려는 치킨게임
인공지능의 세계에서는 0과 1이 서로 공존하며 시스템을 굴려 가지만, 한국 정치의 1번은 2번을 완전히 소멸(0)시키려 하고, 2번은 1번을 박멸(0)하려고만 합니다. 

상대를 공존의 대상이 아닌 '타도해야 할 적'으로만 바라보니, 정치판은 언제나 승자도 패자도 없는 제로섬(Zero-Sum) 전쟁터가 됩니다.

 

글을 맺으며
정치권이 던져주는 1번과 2번이라는 두 가지 선택지만을 맹목적으로 추종한다면, 우리는 사유하는 존재(Cogito)가 아니라 정치가 짜놓은 프레임의 노예일 뿐입니다. 

서로를 인정하고 때로는 비워낼 줄 아는 '0'의 지혜가 복원되지 않는 한, 이 먹통이 된 정치 시스템에서 진짜 '해답'을 찾기는 어려울 것입니다.
이제는 1과 2라는 해괴한 이진법에서 벗어나, 우리 국민들이 '사유하는 시민'으로서 번호표 뒤에 숨은 본질을 냉정하게 감시해야 할 때입니다. 생각하는 국민이 존재할 때, 정치도 비로소 정답을 찾기 시작할 것입니다

한국 정치의 해괴한 논리는 비단 0이 없는 이진법에만 머물지 않습니다. 학창 시절 배웠던 삼각함수의 그래프를 떠올려 봅니다. 지금의 정치는 오로지 탄젠트(\tan) 곡선에만 매몰되어 있고, 사인(\sin)과 코사인(\cos)의 지혜는 완전히 잊었습니다.

탄젠트 곡선은 중간이 없습니다. 특정 한계선에 다다르면 플러스 무한대(+\infty)와 마이너스 무한대(-\infty)라는 양극단으로 찢어지며 폭발해 버립니다. 타협 없이 끝까지 증오를 키워 상대를 파멸시키려는 지금의 극단적 정치가 딱 이 탄젠트의 모양새입니다.

정치가 정답을 찾으려면 사인과 코사인을 알아야 합니다. 사인과 코사인은 아무리 높이 올라가도 +1과 -1이라는 절제의 선을 넘지 않으며, 부드러운 곡선을 그리며 끊임없이 순환합니다. 권력은 영원하지 않으며 오르막이 있으면 내리막이 있다는 순환의 진리, 그리고 서로 다른 파형이 만나 조화를 이루어야 한다는 공존의 법칙이 바로 사인과 코사인에 담겨 있습니다.

절제와 순환(사인·코사인)을 잊은 채, 파국을 향해 치솟기만 하는 탄젠트 정치 속에서 사유하는 시민(Cogito)의 역할은 더욱 절실해집니다

 

Why Does Korean Politics Only Resemble the Tangent Curve?

# Cogito, ergo Sum

Written by Cheong Seung-yearn (砅涓)

Life is a sine curve, so why does Korean politics only resemble the tangent curve?

Not long ago, I found myself walking a long distance in silence. Though my feet ached a bit, walking alone allowed me to immerse myself in deep contemplation about the principles of life.

 

We often say, "Life is like a sine and cosine curve." When we recall the trigonometric function graphs we learned in math class, it reveals itself as a truly exquisite metaphor.

 

Sine and cosine gradually decline after reaching their highest peak (1) and gather the strength to rise again after hitting their deepest bottom (-1). Math beautifully proves the truth of life: there are uphills and downhills, and there is no such thing as eternal success or eternal failure. No matter how much it fluctuates, it is a rational curve that ultimately maintains balance based on the central axis (0).

 

However, a sudden thought crossed my mind. "Why does Korean democracy and politics turn a blind eye to this beautiful sine and cosine curve, and look only toward the 'tangent curve'?"

 

In mathematics, the tangent curve takes a completely different shape. It seems to pass through the center smoothly, but at some point, it surges vertically without end (positive infinity) or plunges boundlessly (negative infinity). It is an extreme curve of disaster—having no middle ground, no compromise, and ultimately racing toward destruction. [1.1] Today's Korean politics looks exactly like this tangent curve.

 

First, it is the extreme polarization of 'All or Nothing.'
Cooperative politics, which creates a gentle curve through political compromise and adjustment, is stigmatized as 'weakness' or 'betrayal.' In a winner-take-all structure where one must thoroughly destroy the opponent to survive, politicians pour out only extreme words and deeds that push to the absolute limit just to rally their core supporters. The middle ground disappears, and society is torn into opposite extremes.

 

Second, it is the impatience of chasing only immediate stimulation.
For sine and cosine, their beautiful periodic nature becomes visible only when we look far and travel wide. The same goes for long-term national grand plans or social consensus. However, our politics is obsessed only with immediate elections and approval ratings a few months down the road. This is why they focus solely on provocative issues and populism that can explosively boost approval ratings in the short term, much like a tangent curve.

 

Third, it is the loss of the sense of balance that holds the center (0).
For a society to be healthy, the voices of rational citizens holding the center—the middle ground—must be solid. However, today's politics divides the public, splitting society apart like the sharp vertical lines of a tangent curve.

 

Do you know what the most frightening aspect of a tangent curve is?
Though it seems to soar endlessly as if floating, it eventually hits an invisible wall (an asymptote) that cannot be crossed, and snaps away without a trace. This is a mathematical truth that those who currently hold power and run wild like a tangent curve must remember.

 

The true role of politics is to converge our society's conflicts into a predictable and safe range, just like sine and cosine.

 

Walking my path in silence today, I earnestly hope that the wisdom of ordinary citizens living honestly will one day return this runaway tangent-like politics back to the politics of common sense and coexistence, modeled after sine and cosine.

 

 

There Is No Answer in the Bizarre Binary System of 1 and 2 That Ignores Zero (0)

The computers and Artificial Intelligence (AI) we use every day accomplish all the complex computations of the world using only two numbers: '0' and '1.' Finding the most precise and rational 'solution' through the combination of an off-state (0) and an on-state (1) is the very principle of binary logic.

 

Descartes said, "Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am)." It means that human beings realize their value of existence only when they question blind phenomena and think for themselves.

 

In that sense, deeply contemplating our political reality today leads to a truly bittersweet conclusion.
"Korean politics uses a bizarre binary system where 0 does not exist, and only 1 and 2 remain. That is why no matter how many times we run the calculations, no answer ever comes out."

 

1. There is no '0 (Emptying)' in Korean politics.

In computing, '0' signifies nothingness (無) and a reset—a 'zero base' to empty everything and return to the beginning. When conflicts reach an extreme, '0' is the space where parties can temporarily lay down their vested interests and deliberate again on a blank canvas.

 

However, for No. 1 (the giant ruling party) and No. 2 (the giant opposition party) in Korean politics, the number '0' does not exist. Already full of their own interests and factional logic, they refuse to yield or empty even a single step. A computing device without a '0' is bound to grind to a halt due to overload.

 

2. Ballot numbers 1 and 2: Tags for division, not unity.

Originally, political party numbers in an election were simple identification numbers designed for the convenience of voters. Somewhere along the way, however, these numbers became 'giant fortress walls' and 'political stigmas' that split the nation in half.

 

Monopolizing numbers 1 and 2, the two major parties obsess over marketing hatred and fear—shouting "If the other side (1 or 2) wins, the country will ruin"—instead of competing over policies for the nation's future. This is why, even after elections end, instead of national unity, only extreme factional logic and division remain, fostering the mentality of "Our side is unconditionally right, and your side is unconditionally wrong."

 

3. A chicken game to turn each other into '0.'

In the world of AI, 0 and 1 coexist to keep the system running. In Korean politics, however, No. 1 seeks to completely annihilate (0) No. 2, and No. 2 seeks to utterly eradicate (0) No. 1. Because they view each other not as partners in coexistence but solely as 'enemies to be overthrown,' the political arena remains a zero-sum battlefield with neither winners nor losers.

 

Epilogue

If we blindly follow only the two choices—No. 1 and No. 2—thrown at us by the political sphere, we are not thinking beings (Cogito), but merely slaves to the framework built by politics. Unless the wisdom of '0,' which knows how to respect each other and occasionally empty oneself, is restored, it will be difficult to find a real 'solution' in this frozen political system.

 

It is time to break free from this bizarre binary system of 1 and 2. As 'thinking citizens,' we must coolly monitor the true essence hidden behind the ballot numbers. When thinking citizens exist, politics too will finally begin to find the right answer.

 

The bizarre logic of Korean politics does not stop at a binary system lacking zero. Let us recall the trigonometric graphs we learned in school. Today's politics is entirely consumed by the tangent (\(\tan \)) curve, completely forgetting the wisdom of sine (\(\sin \)) and cosine (\(\cos \)).

 

The tangent curve has no middle. When it reaches a specific boundary line, it tears apart and explodes into opposite extremes: positive infinity (\(+\infty \)) and negative infinity (\(-\infty \)). This extreme politics of today, which seeks to destroy opponents by fueling hatred to the very end without compromise, is the exact shape of the tangent.

 

For politics to find the right answer, it must understand sine and cosine. No matter how high they rise, sine and cosine never cross the lines of moderation at +1 and -1; they draw smooth curves and cycle continuously. The truth of cycles—that power is not eternal and that there is a downhill for every uphill—and the law of coexistence—that different waveforms must meet to create harmony—are precisely what are embedded in sine and cosine.

 

Amidst a tangent politics that forgets moderation and cycles, only soaring toward catastrophe, the role of a thinking citizen (Cogito) becomes all the more desperate.