The declaration of martial law by the incumbent president on December 3, 2024, sent shockwaves not only through South Korea but also across the global community. Understanding this tragicomic episode necessitates rigorous, interdisciplinary research by scholars of democracy. At present, it is imperative to recognize that this conjuncture reveals not merely a crisis of democracy but a deeper and more pervasive crisis of democratic resilience. This crisis transcends political and constitutional dimensions, encapsulating the hostile polarization of Korean society and the erosion of its socioeconomic vitality.
Given the urgency of addressing immediate challenges, the Democracy Cluster at Seoul National University has undertaken a systematic reexamination of the symptomatic crises afflicting Korean democracy. This inquiry focuses on public perceptions, institutional deficiencies, the logic of power struggles, and the strategic behavior of key actors. Through this diagnostic approach, the SNU Democracy Cluster aims to propose urgent measures not only for restoring South Korean democracy to a stable trajectory but also for fostering the qualitative deepening of democracy after the normalization.
This initiative promises to offer valuable insights for scholars of comparative democracy, illuminating how even seemingly consolidated democratic regimes can unexpectedly succumb to fragility. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of proactive strategies to prevent and surmount such crises, contributing meaningfully to the global discourse on democratic resilience.
