Civil Society and the State of Democracy in South Korea

• In Event: Do Citizens in Democracies Still Support Democracy?

Abstract

The candlelight protests of 2016-17 in South Korea led to the impeachment of the president, effectively ending almost ten years of conservative rule. Although protests heralded hopes for a more transparent, open government, accusations have emerged that the current administration has also resorted to similar tactics to silence critics and limit free speech. Relying on both quantitative and qualitative indicators, this paper examines the state of democracy in South Korea today, and in particular civil society’s role in Korean politics from the Roh Moo-hyun period (2003-2007) to the present Moon Jae-in government. Long-term trends in South Korean social movements, electoral participation, and freedom of expression support a sanguine interpretation of South Korean democracy as society shifts from a materialist to postmaterialist society. By no means does this suggest that South Korean politics and society remain problem free. Perceived grievances and rights violations confronting particular sectors and groups - placed within the broader structural context of rising economic inequality, a rapidly declining and aging population, limited political pluralism and corruption – warrants ongoing critical analysis of South Korean democracy. However, without succumbing to over-generalization, scholars need to periodically step back from the trees to survey the forest and place the development of South Korean civil society and democracy in broader historical and political context. As such, the “stifling” ten years of conservative rule as well as the more “open” society of the current progressive government should be critically examined.

Author

• Andrew Yeo, The Catholic University of America