"South Korea Resisting Martial Law, the Most Inspiring Democratic Victory of the 21st Century" [Constitutional Amendment, Connecting the Future]

Dan Slater, Leading Expert on Asian Democracy
Korea's Response to Martial Law: A Shining Example for the World
More Serious Issues: Polarization and Disregard for Political Norms
Far-Right Surge Will Continue... Fueled by Politicians and Media

Editor's NoteThe Constitution of the Republic of Korea is the foundation of the nation and the standard of citizens' lives. The '1987 system,' symbolizing the last constitutional amendment, is now being called for change. This means there is a need for new standards to redesign Korea's present and future, considering nearly 30 years of changes. For members of the National Assembly and political scientists, constitutional amendment is recognized as an inevitable task of the times. The 'social turmoil' triggered by the declaration of martial law paradoxically revitalized the momentum for constitutional amendment. Across the political spectrum and various sectors of society, constitutional amendment has emerged as a key topic of interest. Based on diagnoses from former presidents of European countries that have experienced constitutional amendments, political and economic scholars from the U.S. and Japan, the president of the Korean Constitutional Law Association, and former governors of the Bank of Korea, we aim to analyze this era of great transformation and sketch a constitutional amendment suited to our society.

Dan Slater, a professor of political science at the University of Michigan and an expert in democracy and authoritarian politics, described South Korea's resistance against the declaration of martial law as "the most inspiring democratic victory of the 21st century." He praised the impeachment and holding accountable of the president who declared unconstitutional martial law, the discussion of constitutional amendments, and the search for preventive measures as exemplary models rarely found worldwide.

However, he stated that the current major topic in Korean politics, 'constitutional amendment,' should not become the top priority. He emphasized that "the more serious problems in Korea are not the system (presidential system) but social polarization and the exercise of political rights without adhering to democratic norms and rules," cautioning against the belief that all problems will be solved simply by constitutional amendment.

In a written interview with Asia Economy on the 28th, Professor Slater said, "Korea has recently faced a major crisis and has so far overcome it admirably." He is a scholar who has studied international relations and the history of democracy for about 20 years at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan.

He is regarded as a top expert on 'Asian democracy,' having published books on the economic development, democratization, and authoritarianism of Asian countries including Korea. His major works include Ordering Power: Contentious Politics and Authoritarian Leviathans in Southeast Asia (2010), which analyzes the durability of authoritarian regimes and the volatility of state power focusing on seven Southeast Asian countries, and From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia (2022), which connects rapid economic development in Asian countries with democracy. He currently serves as the director of the Emerging Democracies Center at the University of Michigan's International Institute.

Regarding the recent global rise of far-right political forces, Professor Slater attributed it to "anger over economic recession and inequality." In the U.S., President Donald Trump continues to take far-right actions, and in Europe, the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the second-largest party in the German federal election on the 24th, showing a clear spread. The far-right shift of conservative parties is also an issue in Korea. He expressed concern that "cynical politicians and increasingly toxic media are fueling this." The following is a Q&A.

-Since the declaration of martial law in December last year, South Korea has experienced political turmoil. Within less than a decade, the president faced impeachment again, and public opinion has become polarized. How do you assess the current state of democracy in Korea?

▲South Korea's response to the declaration of martial law has become a shining example worldwide. Many people in other countries watched with envy as Korea held leaders who ignored the constitution accountable. Of course, like many countries worldwide, Korea suffers from severe political polarization, which continuously threatens democracy. However, in my assessment, Korea has recently faced a major crisis and has so far overcome it admirably.

-Many argue that Korea's martial law incident stemmed from the 'imperial presidency' and that constitutional amendments toward a four-year two-term presidency or a parliamentary system are necessary. How do you evaluate the presidential system?

▲I cannot be certain that presidential systems are generally more vulnerable than parliamentary systems. Each country must choose the path that suits it. There is no fixed blueprint. However, in an era when elected top officials cause greater harm to democracy, it may be necessary to strengthen constraints on the president or even consider ending the presidential system. It is very healthy that Koreans are actively discussing these options.

-Do you think Korea should amend the constitution to strengthen democracy? If constitutional amendment is to disperse presidential powers, in what direction should it proceed?

▲This is not a matter for outside experts. Only through internal negotiation and deliberation can the necessary political support for constitutional amendment be obtained, and reforms consistent with Korea's strong democratic traditions be achieved. The more serious problems in Korea currently are not institutional but social polarization, especially the declining willingness to exercise political rights within democratic norms and rules. Therefore, changing the system should not be the top priority in any case. At least, constitutional amendment should not be seen as a kind of quick fix.

-Far-right parties are expanding their influence worldwide. Donald Trump was elected president in the U.S., and right-wing parties are strong in Europe. What do you think is the cause of these changes? Will this trend continue?

▲Given that young voters, especially young men, find the far right more attractive than older generations, this trend seems to have just begun. Center-right parties are declining or embracing the far right, indicating that this trend is spreading within democratic party systems. There is no common cause for far-right support in many countries, but I want to highlight anger stemming from economic recession and inequality. These are real and significant problems. This leads to paranoia against minorities and immigrants, which I believe is largely manipulated and fueled by cynical politicians and an increasingly toxic media environment.

-In Korea, allegations of election fraud have been raised. In the U.S., President Trump did not accept the 2020 election results. What impact does growing distrust in elections have on democracy?

▲I hope we do not overemphasize elections as the core of democracy. Competitive elections are certainly very important in democracy. But freedom of the press, freedom to form political organizations, and freedom from judicial harassment and legal threats are also important. Nowadays, when judging whether democracy is healthy, we tend to focus on whether a candidate with a democratic pledge was elected. This means that the impact of elected politicians on democracy with the power they gain is more important than the election itself.

-What advice would you give to the Korean people currently facing serious political turmoil?

▲I hope you do not blame yourselves or feel defeated. The way you fought against the shocking declaration of martial law was one of the most inspiring democratic victories of the 21st century. Please continue to inspire us. The world needs more inspiration now than ever before.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.