Politics of South Korea
South Korea is a presidential representative democracy with a multi-party system. The government consists of executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president is the head of state and commander-in-chief, elected for a single five-year term. The National Assembly has 300 members elected for a four-year term. The judiciary is independent and comprises a Supreme Court, appellate courts, and a Constitutional Court.
Since its founding, South Korea's political system has undergone several revisions. The current Sixth Republic began in 1988 with a constitutional revision that ended military rule and established a more democratic system. In 2022, South Korea was ranked a "full democracy" by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the third most electoral democratic country in Asia by the V-Dem Democracy indices.
Challenges and Backsliding: While South Korea is widely considered a democracy, it has faced challenges in recent years. From the mid-2000s to mid-2010s, the country experienced a period of backsliding, characterized by increased state control of media, restrictions on political expression, and weakened election laws. This has been attributed to a combination of factors, including a hyper-presidential system, a deep ideological divide in society, and a weak political party structure.
Despite these challenges, South Korea's civil society remains strong, and its citizens have played a vital role in preventing further backsliding. The 2016-2017 Candlelight Demonstrations, which led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, demonstrated the power of civil society and its commitment to democratic values.
Recent Developments
Under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, South Korea has adopted a more assertive role on the global stage, positioning itself as a "Global Pivotal State." The country has taken an active stance on promoting democracy and protecting human rights, hosting the 2024 Summit for Democracy and committing to stronger coordination on these issues with the US and Japan at the 2023 Camp David Summit.
Political Parties and Elections
South Korea's political landscape is dominated by two main parties: the liberal Democratic Party of Korea and the conservative People Power Party. These parties have consistently alternated in power, with Yoon Suk-yeol's victory in 2022 marking a return to conservative leadership. South Korea's political parties are characterized by a high degree of volatility, with splits and mergers a common occurrence.