{"id":2204356,"date":"2024-03-20T19:17:44","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T10:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204356"},"modified":"2024-03-21T15:46:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T06:46:44","slug":"south-korea-eyes-joining-g7-but-faces-hurdles-amid-democratic-backsliding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/south-korea-eyes-joining-g7-but-faces-hurdles-amid-democratic-backsliding\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea eyes joining G7, but faces hurdles amid democratic backsliding"},"content":{"rendered":"
As Italy prepares to host the Group of Seven (G7) summit in June, South Korea appears to be making a behind-the-scenes push for membership in the elite group of advanced economies.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korean foreign ministry officials have been privately lobbying visiting high-level foreign dignitaries to support an ROK bid, multiple diplomatic sources have told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> on condition of anonymity.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea has yet to announce that it seeks to join the G7, and it\u2019s unclear whether the group would support such a bid. But it would align with the Yoon administration\u2019s efforts to bolster ties with the U.S. and Western countries and its <\/span>vocal advocacy<\/span><\/a> for democracy, human rights and liberal values.<\/span><\/p>\n However, there are significant hurdles to South Korea joining the G7, from signs of democratic backsliding and worsening economic inequality to the geopolitical implications of aligning more closely with the West.<\/span><\/p>\n All of these factors raise the question of whether Seoul really has a chance of becoming the eighth member of the group and underline the risks of misspending its energy on a quixotic bid.<\/span><\/p>\n DOMESTIC BACKSLIDING<\/b><\/p>\n A big question mark over South Korea\u2019s bid for G7 membership is its commitment to democratic values and social progress. One of the most pressing concerns is the apparent <\/span>democratic<\/span><\/a> backsliding<\/span><\/a> in recent years.<\/span><\/p>\n The deterioration of freedom of speech has been a worrying trend, evidenced by South Korean security guards <\/span>muzzling and removing<\/span><\/a> a student who heckled Yoon as he was giving a speech at a graduation ceremony at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in February.<\/span><\/p>\n That incident wasn\u2019t the first time Yoon\u2019s security guards forcefully removed people for speaking out against the president. His security personnel also forcefully removed a <\/span>lawmaker<\/span><\/a> from a minor opposition party during a public event in North Jeolla Province in January.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, journalists and media outlets have faced increasing pressure from the government for what it perceives as negative coverage. This was exemplified by the administration\u2019s response to a 2022 case in which broadcaster MBC aired a <\/span>hot-mic clip<\/span><\/a> of Yoon appearing to call U.S. lawmakers \u201cbastards.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon immediately announced an \u201cinquiry\u201d into press outlets that reported his gaffe and demanded an apology. The situation escalated when Yoon\u2019s conservative People Power Party (PPP) filed criminal complaints against the broadcaster and four individual journalists.<\/span><\/p>\n In Jan. 2024, the Seoul Western District Court <\/span>ordered<\/span><\/a> MBC to correct its report on Yoon\u2019s remarks, threatening to impose a daily fine of $760 (1 million won) if the defendant failed to comply.<\/span><\/p>\n Another significant domestic challenge is South Korea\u2019s lack of progress on <\/span>LGBTQ rights<\/span><\/a>. The country has yet to pass a comprehensive anti-discrimination law that would protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in various spheres of life, including employment, housing and education.<\/span><\/p>\n This failure to extend legal protections to a vulnerable group stands in stark contrast to the values of inclusivity and equality championed by other G7 members. During the last G7 meeting in Hiroshima, Japanese ministers were embarrassed to find themselves <\/span>singled out for criticism<\/span><\/a> for their country\u2019s lack of action on inclusivity issues, highlighting the importance that the group places on LGBTQ rights.<\/span><\/p>\n Further, the Yoon administration\u2019s stance on <\/span>gender issues<\/span><\/a> has invited international scrutiny, with women facing discrimination and barriers to advancement in the workplace and beyond. South Korea has <\/span>the largest gender pay gap<\/span><\/a> among members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).<\/span><\/p>\n Concurrently, Yoon accepted former gender minister Kim Hyun-sook\u2019s <\/span>resignation<\/span><\/a> in February without appointing a successor, implying that he intends to honor his <\/span>campaign pledge<\/span><\/a> to abolish the ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n These domestic challenges not only undermine South Korea\u2019s claim to be a leading democracy but also raise questions about its ability to contribute effectively to the G7\u2019s agenda of promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.<\/span><\/p>\n