Next Democracy
In December 2024, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of emergency martial law shook the foundations of South Korean democracy. His decision to resort to military rule in response to political pressure and failure was so shocking that it evoked memories of the martial law imposed by the Chun Doo-hwan regime in the 1980s. Although the emergency decree was lifted just six hours later amid immediate resistance from citizens and the National Assembly, South Korean society plunged into a mire of deep division, hostility, and extreme polarization.
Afterward, far-right rallies waving the South Korean and American flags erupted daily in plazas across the country, with even younger generations joining in. Both online and offline spaces became flooded with language of hate and exclusion, leading to frequent attacks on social minorities, immigrants, and political opponents. When the court ruled to detain the president, fervent supporters went so far as to riot. Although the Constitutional Court officially removed the president from office in April 2025, far-right populism and exclusion of minorities continue to spread more widely and deeply.
As Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt pointed out in ‘How Democracies Die,’ modern democracies no longer collapse under the boots of soldiers. Instead, they erode gradually—through elected leaders, public apathy, and the accumulation of small violations of democratic norms. South Korea is not immune to this global trend of political polarization, hostility and distrust between opposing camps, and the weakening of democratic norms. The reality has seen an elected president infringe upon constitutional order, label opponents as enemies, and tolerate violence and restrictions on civil liberties. If the alliance between mainstream conservative parties and far-right forces continues, the very foundation of South Korean democracy could be threatened, and the nation may face the risk of societal collapse. The crisis of Korean democracy is no longer an abstract debate—it is becoming a matter of our daily lives, dignity, and survival.
Economic inequality and exclusion pose the greatest threat to democracy. When the promise of “prosperity for all” fails to materialize—especially as more people are marginalized in the labor market and welfare systems—trust in democracy erodes. As feelings of relative deprivation and anxiety grow, citizens become more susceptible to authoritarian alternatives or populism. Extremist forces amplify public fear and insecurity to expand their political influence. This age of extremity is rooted in long-standing inequality, uncertainty about the future, and the weakening of social trust. In societies lacking inclusive institutions, economic inequality deepens, and elites are more likely to undermine democracy or revert to authoritarianism.
Even in the midst of crisis, we discover the light of hope. On the night of martial law, citizens defended democracy through solidarity and action, despite fear and anxiety. Standing unarmed before armed troops, they illuminated the plazas with candles and cheering sticks, expressing a yearning for human rights, equality, and peace that transcended generations and social classes. This “Revolution of Light” was more than mere resistance—it was a victory for citizens who embodied the values of democracy, human rights and peace, and who proclaimed ‘the Right to Live Together.’ By upholding nonviolence and demonstrating democratic maturity, this experience has become a precious asset, showing that Korean society can continue to face threats to democracy with dignity. The past, present, and future of Korean democracy depend on the choices and actions of all of us.
Now is the time for us to ask questions and seek answers together. The Asia Future Forum aims to create an arena for designing a democracy for future generations—one that moves beyond division and extremism toward a path of tolerance and restraint. In the morning session, we will conduct an in-depth diagnosis of the root causes and structural issues behind the crisis Korean democracy is facing, and examine international case studies where invisible norms and active civic engagement breathe life into democratic practice. The afternoon session will focus on how to strengthen and reorganize Korean democracy in this age of extremity. We will explore concrete solutions such as institutional reform, economic inclusion, and the spread of a culture of solidarity and tolerance.
