Democracy in South Korea, Democratization through South Korea
By Sandip Kumar Mishra [Professor, Centre for East Asian Studies,
School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India]
► It is remarkable that South Korea was chosen to be the first host of the Summit for Democracy outside the US, it is not encouraging that South Korea is being put into categories of ‘re-autocratization’ along with Myanmar and Indonesia by the V-Dem.
► In the last few decades when an oxymoron of ‘illiberal democracy’ has gained ground in other parts of the world, South Korea has strongly rejected the idea that ‘illiberal democracy’ could be another form of democracy. South Korea has also rejected the argument through its democratic success that ‘Asian values’ are not in consonance with the democratic values.
► At present, there are challenges to democracy in South Korea in the form of ideological polarization, rise of anti-feminism, and questions over governmental democratic performance.
