Republic of Korea
The Republic of Korea, also known as South Korea, performs at the high level in Representation and Rights and it performs in the mid-range in Rule of Law and Participation. It is amongst the world’s top 25 per cent with regard to several factors. Over the last five years, it has suffered declines in Civil Liberties, Freedom of the Press, Effective Parliament and Access to Justice, although all remain within the mid to high range. It has not experienced any advances in the same time period. Economically, the Republic of Korea is notable for its rapid rise from relative poverty to significant wealth; today, it is known for its robust car manufacturing, electronics, and semiconductor industries. South Korea has some of the fastest Internet speeds in the world and ranks highly on the Human Development Index (HDI).
Until the Second World War, the Korean peninsula was a single, united country. As a result of the Korean War, the peninsula was divided in two, with the North and South existing under the spheres of influence of the Soviet Union and the United States, respectively. South Korea was governed by an authoritarian regime until nationwide protests in June of 1987 initiated a process of democratization and political liberalization. Since then, the country has experienced multiple successful transfers of power. Perhaps none has been more notable than the 2017 impeachment and removal from office of then-President Park Geun-hye. Today, the Republic of Korea’s politics are increasingly driven by polarization, as societal divisions along the conservative-progressive dimension widen; this is further fueled by the existing dominance of only two major parties. The main opposition's victory in the 2024 parliamentary election, which saw strong voter turnout, suggests that the government will remain divided along conservative and progressive lines.
South Korea ranks poorly on global rankings of gender parity and women’s rights, and this is reflected in the large gender pay gap and the relatively poor representation of women in politics. Furthermore, discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people and foreigners has been regularly documented. South Koreans also exhibit large age and regional divides in their voting behavior, and additional domestic issues of contention include the strong powers of the presidency and the presence of a chilling defamation law. Foreign policy issues loom particularly large, given the historic and contemporary tensions with North Korea and the long-term policy goal of reunification; South Korean policy towards achieving this objective has long vacillated between a rapprochement-focused ‘Sunshine Policy’ under left-leaning governments and more realpolitik approaches under conservative ones. The U.S. military also maintains a large presence in South Korea, including multiple bases. Finally, relations with Japan have long been challenging, primarily over the settlement of disputes as a result of Imperial Japan’s colonial rule, such as “comfort women”.
Looking ahead, the persistent presence of political polarization and sharp divides between the two main political parties will be important to watch. Actions taken by the Kim regime in the DPRK over the coming years may also adversely impact the South. Finally, South Korea has the world’s lowest fertility rate and one of the fastest aging populations, two trends which will pose issues for the country’s economy in the years ahead. Further declines in Freedom of the Press, driven by pressures from government and business interests, also warrant close attention. The South Korean government has also taken steps in recent years to take a more leading role on the international stage, including agreeing to host the third Summit for Democracy in 2024.
Last Updated: June 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
April 2025
Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon’s impeachment
On 4 April, the Constitutional Court upheld President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s impeachment over his martial law declaration in December 2024. All eight judges voted unanimously to remove him from office for violating the constitution. The Court’s decision takes effect immediately and will prompt an election within 60 days to replace him. Political experts suggest that the Court’s ruling, which featured support of conservative justices, reflects a significant recognition of the country’s rule of law and resilience against democratic threats.
Sources: International IDEA, The Korea Herald (1), The Korea Herald (2), The New York Times, Channel News Asia
March 2025
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung acquitted of violating election law
On 26 March, a South Korean appeals court overturned a 2024 lower court ruling that had found main opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung guilty of violating election laws. The charges against Lee originated from allegedly false claims he made during a 2021 parliamentary audit as governor, regarding a land development project that took place while he served as mayor of Seongnam. If the original ruling had been upheld, Lee would have lost his parliamentary seat, been sentenced to two years in prison and been barred from seeking elected office for ten years. The case has a high level of political relevance in light of the upcoming presidential election. Lee stated that the case was politically motivated and that the ruling vindicated him. Prosecutors said they plan to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. While the election law violation case was considered Lee’s most significant legal challenge, he still faces several other trials on charges including bribery and other crimes related to a USD 1 billion property development scandal.
Sources: The Korea Times, The Korean Herald, Al Jazeera, Chosun Daily, CSIS
February 2025
Constitutional Court rules acting president had duty to fill court vacancy
On 27 February, the Constitutional Court ruled that acting President Choi Sang-mok’s decision to withhold the appointment of a ninth justice to fill a vacancy on the Court’s bench in December was unconstitutional. While Choi said he would respect the Court’s decision, experts suggest that a ruling by a full-nine-member bench on President Yoon Suk Yeoul’s impeachment trial is unlikely, given that the current eight judges have already concluded the final hearing. The Court's decision does not specify when Choi must appoint the justice. However, legal experts have advised Choi to move forward so the Court can address various needs promptly. The decision enables the Court to carry out its functions independently and effectively.
Sources: The Korea Herald, International IDEA, The Korea Times
December 2024
Parliament swiftly overturns president’s martial law decree
On 3 December, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared emergency martial law in the country for the first time in 45 years. It remains unclear why martial law was imposed as South Korea’s constitution only permits its use during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states.” Yoon defended his action as a “legitimate act of governance” and accused opposition lawmakers of pro-North Korean anti-state activities. Political analysts, however, note that these claims appear baseless and his action was in response to the opposition-controlled parliament’s failure to pass his budgets. However, Yoon revoked the order hours later after lawmakers, amid mass protests, voted down the decree. On 14 December, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon, arguing he had acted unconstitutionally. This is the second time a president has faced impeachment proceedings in less than a decade. Yoon remains suspended until the Constitutional Court rules to either reinstate him or remove him from office permanently. Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo, who stepped in to serve as acting president, was also impeached on 27 December, accused of participating in Yoon’s martial law imposition. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is currently the acting president.
Update: On 24 March 2025, the Constitutional Court overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating him as Prime Minister and acting President. The Court stated that it found no evidence of Han's involvement in President Yoon’s decision to impose martial law.
Sources: The Korea Herald, Human Rights Watch, BBC News, Al Jazeera, Chatam House, The New York Times
President Yoon faces insurrection and abuse of power charges
On 31 December, the Seoul Western District Court approved a request from the Corruption Investigation office for High-Ranking Officials to issue a warrant against President Yoon Suk-Yeol on charges of insurrection, treason and abuse of power after his failed martial law order on 3 December. The charges are separate from his impeachment proceedings and the warrant was issued after Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning over his martial law declaration. Although past officeholders have been impeached, Yoon is the first sitting president to face an arrest.
Update: Following President Yoon’s indictment and arrest in mid-January, the Seoul Central District Court lifted his arrest warrant on 7 March 2025, stating that his detention was procedurally flawed. While allowing for his release from detention, Yoon still faces trial on insurrection charges later this year.
Sources: International IDEA, BBC News, The Korea Times, BBC News
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