South Korea's Political Evolution: From Authoritarian Rule to a Pivotal Democratic State

Over the past six decades, South Korea has undergone a radical transformation in its image, from one of the world's poorest countries, suffering the long-term effects of war (1950-1953), to a leading digital economy of the 21st century. Economic development, political democratization, and technological advancement are at the heart of these spectacular changes. This panel examines the challenges to South Korea democracy: a society experimenting with technologies that redefine the functioning of the public sphere; conservatism’s role playing a significant role in political culture and shaping of social relations and state policy; polarized social structures and critique of cultural norms, especially along generational and gender lines; and finally, democratic institutions facing growing distrust and social radicalization. Development of political participation and governance in the South Korea of the 21st century continues to encounter limitations stemming from the security environment, such as threats from North Korea, the competing political interests in the East Asian region, and the burden of an authoritarian past. This burden was exemplified by the political crisis when martial law was declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024. South Korea’s democracy set against numerous complexities offers lessons for other democratic states.