South Korea has shown dramatic growth in the past decades quickly rising from third to first world in a span of a few decades. Often being dubbed a miracle, it is now the 13th largest economy in the world with renowned brands such as Samsung that is comparable to United State’s Apple. However, her success did not come easy. South Korea, henceforth Korea, has experienced a difficult transition to democracy after the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Liberalization did not occur until the 1987 June Democratic Uprising, yet today; democracy in South Korea operates more efficiently compared to any other Third World countries .
This paper would thus be exploring the factors that have led to Korea’s democratization with three key focuses.
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After Park Chung Hee seized power via a military takeover, his regime placed heavy emphasis on strategies that advance economic growth. Economic growth kicked off when the inaugural Five Year Economic Development Plan that stemmed from export-oriented industrialization was successfully carried out . Under Park’s authoritarian regime, Korea experienced a vast economic growth, which eventually contributed to her democratization. Park placed a great emphasis on the argument that without economic revolution, a country would not be able to democratize .
There is an observable relationship between economic development and the emergence of democracy in Korea during the 1980s. The rapid economic development enabled the rise of the working middle classes and hence an increased income gap. Furthermore, the progressive levels of resource focused (capital and knowledge) industrialisation resulted in high pluralism, which inevitably led citizens to question the regime’s legitimacy . The “societal disequilibrium” that Koreans experienced led to a sense of suppression and dissatisfaction, which ultimately provoked a revolution led by the middle
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As the Cold War intensified after nationwide liberation, Koreans experienced the ideological and political conflicts and subsequently these experiences created a strong anti-communist Korea. Initially, the Reagan administration did not pressure Korea to democratize, choosing build a relationship with the focus on the common support of anti-communist governments, both authoritarian and democratic. As a result, Reagan developed a sense of trust with Chun Doo Hwan . Subsequently Reagan’s administration began to place greater emphasis universal democracy, leading to a greater urge for the Korean government to amend their constitution .
These pressures were both public and private. External public pressure is critical in determining the actions of relevant stakeholders, especially as it affects the strength of reformers. As tactical reasons deter US from using economic and military sanctions to encourage liberalization, the power of verbal sanctions should not be underestimated. Public statements have been successfully utilized in Korea to exert influence
After WWII, there was communism fever in the northern part of the world. This domineering outbreak of communism threatened the US and our capitalist allies. Through the outbreaks, the US took things to drastic measures and did everything in their power to stop communism, causing multiple wars and combat. During June of 1950, North Korea first invaded the Southern part of Korea due to their pessimistic views on communism.
The same tactics used to make the Korean’s obedient also created a hatred among the people instead of creating a people that were grateful or content in any way. Strategies used that were previously mentioned, such as the elimination of Korean culture, with the addition of those that installed fear into the people that blanketed Korea in suffering. With the people’s culture and identity being taken away, the addition of fear and oppression added to the anguish of country. Fear was instilled by means of people being “forced out of their land and their homes by the Japanese, who are buying up land cheaply by threat and coercion” (Kim, p.17). The people also had the fear that by saying the wrong thing or getting on someone wrong side they would face grave consequences.
President Park decreed that the Korean government
Ronald Reagan won the United States presidency in 1980 and sought to change American’s attitudes towards their country, their government, and the world (Mindtap, Middle East Crises, 12.4). The Reagan Revolution was truly revolutionary because Reagan’s conservative political ideology transformed the framework of politics which continues to influence it to this day. This can be seen through the analyzation of the circumstances surrounding the rise in conservatism in American politics and the many instances of why Reagan’s presidency was referred to as a revolution. After the 1970s, many of Americans were unhappy with America’s economy, society, and politics.
But it is just these few huge problems that bring the entire system crashing down. One major issues is the oppressive rules and limited rights on the people. People usually don’t get to speak off their mind, because loyalty to the government is very important in Communist societies, especially North Korea (howstuffworks.com). Hyeonseo Lee left a legacy as a friend to all North Koreans. Through her speeches, interviews, and memoir, she opened up to the world a whole other world that desperately needs light shed on for any change to finally happen.
The government limits culture in NK as civilians have no direct influence to change culture. This paper’s purpose is to educate readers about the cultural aspects and considerations of NK. (U) First off, are North Korea’s political aspects, consisting of provinces, political
Fear occupies every people’s minds. People frighten about terrorists. In this case, it is causing people voluntarily to compromise their liberties and freedom with the government. In this situation, the government becomes more easily to control over people. Pertaining to North Korea,the government is also expanding power and authority by manipulating people.
In conclusion, two aspects of life in North Korea and Anthem are entertainment and consequences for breaking the laws. Both societies have similarities and differences in these aspects. Overall, both these communities are ruled by
However, the people, who were excluded, were eventually able to get the voting rights irrespective of sex or ethnicity, and this result could be the beginning for anyone else. South Korea was one of them. South Korea took the United States as its role model and began as a stepping stone to democracy with the rights to vote that should be given out in all genders. It became so fundamental and natural to South Korea. On May 10, 1948, South Korea elected officials in the first democratic way in the election of a constitutional assembly.
Both “Postwar Reconstruction and a Declaration of Self-reliance, 1953-55” by Charles Armstrong and “North Korea’s Vinalon City: Industrialism as Socialist Everyday Life” by Cheehyung Kim focus on the post-Korean War reconstruction of North Korea as a model of the socialist economic development. The authors analyze the rise of North Korea as a showcase of socialist industrialization with “fraternal” supports from the whole Eastern Bloc, the role of this rapid` industrialization in consolidating Kim Il Sung’s power, and external and internal backgrounds behind the North’s gradual transition from an externally dependent economy to an autarky after the initial years of industrialization. Armstrong argues that “fraternal” assistances from the USSR, the PRC, and the Eastern European countries as well as its strict adherence to Stalinist economic programs with the heavy emphasis on heavy industries were the two biggest characteristics of the rapid industrialization of North Korea. Armstrong summarizes, “through a combination of tremendous work and sacrifice on the part of the North Korean people, generous economic and technical assistance from the “fraternal” socialist countries, and the
They may all force their peers to have a demanding routine but their freedom is in different matter between the two. North Korea allows love relations and family bonding as to “Anthem” only allows to reproduce an offspring but may not allow for the responsibility of them. In the book everyone is equal and must share their equality among their brothers, while everything is devoted to their dictator in North Korea. As to the way everything is formed in Korea must have it isolated and to benefit for only the country. Meanwhile the book states everything is structured for
Due to the Western democratic influence over the southern half of the Korean peninsula, it allowed for South Korea to go under positive reform and development. Democracy empowered people to have a voice in politics and in the way the country should be ran. The transition of governmental system allowed for Korean citizens to participate in electing Presidents through holding “regular, free, and fair elections.” In a sense, it was like proof to the world that Korea was now democratized. Not only did democracy change the authoritative governmental system to a democratic system, but it also allowed for the small country to experience great economical growth.
Barbara Demick has developed the idea that North Korea “has fallen out of the developed world” by providing several examples of life as analytical ways of thoughts and processes of North Koreans in comparison to other countries
There already exist few countries that follow by the custom of totalitarianism. One of those few countries includes North Korea, one of the world’s most secretive and isolated societies. North Korea arose in 1948, by the end of World
One would have a hard time believing anyone would take refuge in North Korea, as our tight-knit community is not one used to a changing population, but some have. One of the best known refugees of North Korea is the four US Military people who took asylum in North Korea. North Korea has such a tight influence on who goes in and out that NGO’s can’t say who’s getting the proper help. Departure is seen as an act of treason from the citizens and even tourists are closely monitored. Refugees from China pour(ed) into Northern Korea only to be stopped.