Democratic Consolidation in South Korea: Opportunities and Constraints

Abstract

This chapter deals with the democratic consolidation in South Korea. After a successful democratic transition, the country completed the democratic consolidation process in a relatively short period of time. Since 1987, South Koreans have institutionalized and regularized competitive and fair elections, and the electoral space has expanded from the national to the local level, and broadened to societal areas. The military that had actually ruled the country for 26 years returned to the barracks and has been under firm civilian control. The finishing touch on completing the consolidation process was the first peaceful transfer of power to long-time opposition leader, Kim Dae Jung, in the presidential election in December 1997. With the peaceful turnover of government by means of fair and competitive elections, Korean democracy can be considered consolidated.