政

Phono-semantic/associative compound:

正 (correct, upright) – indicates correctness, order, justice;

攴 (to strike, action, implement) – denotes action, administration, enforcement.

Together, the character signifies acting to make things correct → governing, setting affairs in order.

This is reflected in the Analects (論語 · 顏淵篇): 「政者, 正也」 – “Politics (政) is rectification (正).”

Semantic range:

- government, political authority;

- administration of affairs;

- policies, regulations;

- act of governing, ruling.

政治 (정치) – politics

政事 (정사) – state affairs, government business

行政 (행정) – administration

政策 (정책) – policy

政權 (정권) – political power

Originally written with 8 strokes in Kangxi form (joining the ㄴ-shape of 正), but modern writing separates them, giving 9 strokes in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean usage.

Shares its semantic foundation with 治 (to govern, to regulate), both tied to the idea of rectification and order.