{"id":2205618,"date":"2024-07-01T19:28:12","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T10:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2205618"},"modified":"2024-07-02T18:27:45","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T09:27:45","slug":"how-south-koreas-democratic-decay-has-worsened-under-president-yoon-suk-yeol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/07\/how-south-koreas-democratic-decay-has-worsened-under-president-yoon-suk-yeol\/","title":{"rendered":"How South Korea\u2019s democratic decay has worsened under President Yoon Suk-yeol"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Korea has experienced systematic and sustained erosion of democratic norms and institutions since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May 2022, according to a comprehensive <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Korea Pro<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> analysis of multiple indicators, with trends that began under the conservative president\u2019s predecessor not only continuing but significantly worsening in some cases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the July 2020 journal article \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.journalofdemocracy.org\/articles\/south-koreas-democratic-decay\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Korea\u2019s Democratic Decay<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d Stanford professor Gi-wook Shin generated heated debate by arguing that a series of actions by then-ROK President Moon Jae-in \u2014 including politically motivated investigations, infringements on press freedom, social polarization and the suppression of civil society \u2014 underscored democratic backsliding under the progressive administration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Korea Pro\u2019s<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> analysis suggests that despite Yoon\u2019s bold and regular rhetoric about the importance of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/09\/yoon-stands-up-for-universal-norms-but-fails-to-explain-how-hell-defend-them\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">freedom<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/south-korea-hosts-democracy-summit-as-its-own-democratic-principles-erode\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">democracy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/08\/reframing-south-koreas-history-yoons-dance-with-the-new-right\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">human rights<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 trends Shin flagged as evidence of democratic backsliding in 2020 \u2014 those trends have continued unabated, with South Korea\u2019s performance even worsening in other areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key trendlines from the past two years that point to democratic backsliding include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A major continuation of politically motivated investigations targeting opposition figures and critics of the government;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A demonstrable deterioration of press freedom, with journalists and even members of the public facing pressure and intimidation from authorities \u2014 especially for material relating to the president and his wife;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A worrying trend of marginalized communities, particularly the LGBTQ+ population, experiencing heightened discrimination and a lack of legal protections;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use of government power to suppress strikers and push forward controversial changes;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A regular lack of accountability for senior government officials.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But that is not to say that the state of the country\u2019s democracy has backtracked in every way. For instance, despite Yoon\u2019s reputation for being \u201canti-feminist,\u201d multiple datasets indicate that South Korea\u2019s global ranking on issues of gender equality has improved from administration to administration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consistency between the Yoon and Moon administrations is also notable in a range of areas, suggesting the structure of South Korean politics creates inherent challenges that persist across different governments.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2205629\" style=\"width: 1880px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2205629\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2205629\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1870\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/8.png 1870w, https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/8-935x500.png 935w, https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/8-1255x670.png 1255w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1870px) 100vw, 1870px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2205629\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>An illustration of Seoul&#8217;s skyline turning black and white | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>POLITICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the clearest parallels between the two administrations is the use of politically motivated investigations to target opponents and critics, as well as appointments of politically convenient individuals to key postings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the protests that ended the Park administration, the professor Shin pointed to the Moon administration\u2019s campaign of \u201ceradicating deep-rooted evils\u201d as being particularly problematic when it came to upholding democratic norms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shin and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/opinion\/2024\/05\/137_308516.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">others<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have cited extensive investigations and purges by the Moon government surrounding decisions made by the foreign and unification ministries, as well as the spy service and education ministry, as attempts to settle political scores with the former Park Geun-hye administration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, Shin pointed to arrests of senior judges and appointment of left-leaning former judges and prosecutors to high-level presidential office positions as evidence of blurring the lines between presidential power and judicial independence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All these trends have continued under Yoon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extensive investigations, raids and purges have taken place regarding the actions of key Moon-era personnel in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/2022\/07\/seoul-prosecutors-raid-spy-agency-over-forced-repatriation-of-north-koreans\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spy service<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/world.kbs.co.kr\/service\/news_view.htm?lang=e&amp;Seq_Code=171734\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">defense<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/m.koreatimes.co.kr\/pages\/article.asp\/343926\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unification, industry, ICT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/08\/investigation-into-solar-power-corruption-as-yoon-targets-moons-energy-policy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">energy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ministries with part of this process leading to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreajoongangdaily.joins.com\/2022\/12\/11\/national\/socialAffairs\/Korea-Suh-Hoon-indictment\/20221211153334696.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">indictment of former national security advisor Suh Hoon<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Likewise, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/09\/court-hearing-looms-for-lee-jae-myung-following-national-assembly-vote\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">investigations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> into opposition leader <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/02\/south-koreas-opposition-leader-avoids-arrest-but-his-party-isnt-celebrating\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lee Jae-myung<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the main opposition Democratic Party\u2019s think tank raised eyebrows and fueled accusations of political retribution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, Yoon\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/03\/opposition-lawmakers-call-for-justice-minister-to-resign\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">placement of friendly figures<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/01\/how-lack-of-diversity-in-government-risks-undermining-seouls-global-reputation\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prosecutor colleagues<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/view.php?ud=20220707000637\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">other acquaintances<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in positions of power triggered <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/former-south-korean-defense-ministers-appointment-as-envoy-sparks-controversy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">concerns<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about the abuse of public authority.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though these factors are persistent phenomena in South Korean politics, the situation appears to have worsened under Yoon compared to the Moon Jae-in era.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This may be why the ROK dropped so much during the Yoon administration on the V-Dem\u2019s Liberal Democracy Index, which ranks countries according to their performance in areas such as judicial independence, separation of powers and checks and balances within political systems:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2205640\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/q.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A similar trend can be observed in the Economist Intelligence Unit\u2019s \u201cDemocracy Index,\u201d which shows South Korea rising to its highest-ever ranking of 16 in the penultimate year of Moon Jae-in\u2019s presidency and dropping to 24 in the first year of the Yoon administration:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2205641\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/qq.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>DETERIORATING FREEDOM OF SPEECH<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A closer examination of the state of freedom of speech under the Moon and Yoon administrations reveals a disturbing pattern of sustained government hostility toward individuals and media outlets critical of their policies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under Moon, the government\u2019s approach to media criticism was characterized by a mix of heavy-handed tactics and subtle pressure, Shin wrote in 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In particular, he cited several areas of concern: a \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/general-news-3d14a9663b114644a36e123a7c7bf9b1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">war on fake news<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d that urged state agencies to report false or misleading news, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/nation\/2024\/05\/113_283489.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">suing of a professor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for telling readers to avoid voting for the Democratic Party, think tanks being pressured to not \u201cwrite or say anything\u201d that will \u201cupset the administration\u201d and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/nation-world\/us-think-tank-on-korea-to-close-as-skorea-cuts-funds\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">defunding<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the U.S.-Korea Institute in Washington for rejecting a Blue House demand to fire its conservative-leaning director.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jung Pak of the Brookings Institute later <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/north-koreas-long-shadow-on-south-koreas-democracy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">drew attention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the Moon administration\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.voanews.com\/a\/east-asia-pacific_south-korea-faces-criticism-crackdown-leaflet-launchers\/6193221.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">repression<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of local North Korea human rights NGOs during the 2018-2019 summits with Pyongyang as evidence of undue interference in ROK citizens\u2019 right to freedom of expression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fast-forward to 2024 and evidence suggests the Yoon administration has not only continued this trend but has taken it to new heights, with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Korea Pro\u2019s<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> investigation showing a particular sensitivity to reports about the president and the first lady. Evidence includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A defamation case against <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/11\/yoons-media-ban-latest-example-of-south-korean-elites-disdain-for-free-press\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MBC<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for reporting Yoon\u2019s alleged foul language;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/english.hani.co.kr\/arti\/english_edition\/e_national\/1108739\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raids<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Newstapa<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">JTBC<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over pre-election reports questioning Yoon\u2019s prosecution conduct;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/world.kbs.co.kr\/service\/news_view.htm?lang=e&amp;Seq_Code=182580\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">raid<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on an opposition-linked lawyer for \u201cdefamation\u201d via a false report on Yoon;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/english.hani.co.kr\/arti\/english_edition\/e_national\/1107580\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A government-proposed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> one-strike law on media for spreading \u201cmalicious false information;\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/nation\/2024\/05\/113_343276.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">removal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of satirical artworks of the president from the National Assembly;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.yna.co.kr\/view\/AEN20221005007900315\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stern warning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d over a prize for a satirical Yoon cartoon by a high school student;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/view.php?ud=20240226050649\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A police probe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of a satirical edited Yoon video;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The presidential office <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.khan.co.kr\/politics\/president\/article\/202405160600001\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">demanding<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that journalists use uncropped Yoon photos;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.yna.co.kr\/view\/AEN20220901009600315\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raids<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.yna.co.kr\/view\/AEN20231207005100315\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over coverage of the first lady;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A presidential aide\u2019s remarks <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/senior-presidential-aide-resigns-over-intimidating-remarks-to-journalists\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">threatening journalists with violence<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over critical reporting.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, the Yoon administration has charged individuals and organizations for alleged breaches of the National Security Act at a level much higher than under Moon Jae-in, 2023 data shows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though the year Yoon took power showed a decline in the use of the law against government critics, cases shot up to nearly 60 in his first full year of leadership. Use of the law tends to increase under conservative-leaning presidencies, as the data shows also during the Park Geun-hye era:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2205623\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With high-profile use of the law on occasions like the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/06\/umbrella-labor-group-halts-presidential-council-involvement-amid-union-crackdown\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">indictment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of senior officials at a major trade union, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/nation\/2024\/02\/251_368806.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">investigation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of a liberal opposition lawmaker, raids on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.yna.co.kr\/view\/AEN20230223009400315\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">two regional<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> trade union offices and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/nation\/2024\/06\/113_344677.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">targeting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of activists, some in the ROK speculate that there has been a deliberate \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/english.hani.co.kr\/arti\/english_edition\/e_national\/1076429\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ramping up<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d of national security investigations under the Yoon administration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, South Korea has also dropped significantly in international press freedom rankings during Yoon\u2019s presidency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2023, the ROK <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/world.kbs.co.kr\/service\/news_view.htm?lang=e&amp;Seq_Code=177563\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fell four spots<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to 47 on a ranking of the world\u2019s most free press environments. In 2024, the ROK dropped to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/nation\/2024\/06\/113_373988.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">62nd<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> place. This follows progress during the Moon administration when the ROK floated between 41st and 43rd place:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2205624\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But legal action and coercion toward journalists have not been the only weapon in the government&#8217;s arsenal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both the Moon and Yoon administrations sought to delegitimize and undermine the credibility of the media in the eyes of the public.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shin drew attention to Moon&#8217;s \u201cwar on fake news,\u201d with the administration encouraging citizens to report \u201cfalse or misleading news accounts\u201d to law enforcement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yoon, too, has regularly spoken about the issue of fake news, suggesting it is a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/06\/president-yoon-suk-yeol-warns-of-fake-news-threat-at-civic-group-anniversary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">major threat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to democratic decision-making systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFake news threatens elections, which are the foundation of democracy, by inciting people to make wrong decisions based on information that is not true,\u201d Yoon said during the third <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/south-korea-hosts-democracy-summit-as-its-own-democratic-principles-erode\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summit for Democracy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in March. \u201cThis is a clear provocation and challenge against democracy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cumulative effect of these actions has been to create an increasingly hostile environment for the press in South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2205646\" style=\"width: 1880px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2205646\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2205646\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/ww.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1870\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/ww.png 1870w, https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/ww-935x500.png 935w, https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/ww-1255x670.png 1255w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1870px) 100vw, 1870px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2205646\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Korea Queer Culture Festival 2014, June 7, 2014 | Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/User:Piotrus\">Piotrus<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Korea_Queer_Culture_Festival_2014_57.JPG\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a>, Edited by Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES\u2019 STRUGGLE<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though Shin\u2019s 2020 analysis didn\u2019t look closely at how the Moon administration treated South Korea\u2019s marginalized communities, policies that recognize and protect women and marginalized communities reflect a commitment to equality and non-discrimination, which are cornerstones of democratic governance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A comparative analysis of the treatment of marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities, under the Moon and Yoon administrations reveals a troubling lack of progress and, in some cases, a deterioration of rights and protections.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under Moon, negative developments included <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/feature\/nbc-out\/south-korean-presidential-hopeful-accused-anti-gay-comments-n751301\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">his opposition to homosexuality<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during his presidential election campaign, his <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/skoreas-lack-anti-discrimination-laws-takes-toll-lgbt-youth-activists-say-2021-09-14\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">failure to enact<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> anti-discrimination laws for the marginalized and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/view.php?ud=20220308000606\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">little progress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the gender pay gap or military regulations surrounding gay personnel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In contrast, positives under Moon were a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.yna.co.kr\/view\/AEN20200918005300315\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">record number<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of women appointed to high government positions, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.korea.net\/NewsFocus\/policies\/view?articleId=211571\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">policies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> protecting women\u2019s rights, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/view.php?ud=20190714000190\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dramatic increase<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the minimum wage, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalasia.org\/v12no2\/cover\/president-moon-faces-the-reality-of-welfare-state-costs_jae-jin-yang\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">expanded<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> social welfare and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2022\/04\/25\/south-korean-court-limits-military-sodomy-law\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">some<\/span><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/en.yna.co.kr\/view\/AEN20220825004000315\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">progress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the military\u2019s anti-sodomy law.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, the Yoon administration has overseen or stood idle by a number of developments that appear to have set the ROK back further regarding the status of marginalized communities. Key developments include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No anti-discrimination bill and an absence of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2024\/05\/19\/south-korea-extend-health-benefits-same-sex-partners\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">equal benefits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for LGBTQ+ couples;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/02\/gender-ministry-vacancy-hints-at-political-calculation-ahead-of-elections\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ongoing efforts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/nation\/2024\/06\/113_376054.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Few women<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in cabinet roles;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ROK remaining the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/view.php?ud=20240308050439#:~:text=123rf-,South%20Korea%20ranked%20last%2C%20at%2029th%20out%20of%2029%20OECD,released%20the%20glass%2Dceiling%20index.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">worst<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> OECD performer on women\u2019s working conditions;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/south-koreas-hostility-to-lgbt-issues-is-a-failure-to-uphold-basic-human-rights\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relocation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of LGBTQ+ parades in Seoul for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/05\/pride-denied-seouls-venue-rejection-draws-international-criticism\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">two years<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and friction with organizers;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/koreajoongangdaily.joins.com\/2023\/06\/18\/national\/socialAffairs\/korea-daegu-lgbtq\/20230618183641580.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> blocking of an LGBTQ+ parade in Daegu even as \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/02\/how-islamophobia-in-south-korea-threatens-the-countrys-image-and-economy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pig protests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d against Muslims went ahead in the same city;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/world-report\/2024\/country-chapters\/south-korea\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fourth National Action Plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on human rights for 2023-2028;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Military&#8217;s anti-sodomy law <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2023\/10\/30\/south-korean-court-upholds-military-sodomy-law\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">upheld<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor conditions for citizens with disabilities, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/koreabizwire.com\/6500-workers-with-disabilities-legally-paid-less-than-minimum-wage\/221200\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">no minimum wage payments for thousands of people with disabilities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and public transport <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/12\/south-koreas-disabled-left-behind-in-urban-tech-boom-with-public-transport-woes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">access problems<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At a macro level, however, there has been some ongoing progress under the Yoon administration, especially relating to the treatment of women in South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reflecting a trend that\u2019s occurred throughout the past decade, South Korea has improved its position on the World Economic Forum\u2019s Global Gender Gap Index, which tracks gender parity across <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/publications\/global-gender-gap-report-2023\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">four key dimensions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite a slight setback in 2023, South Korea improved to its best ranking ever in 2024, the data shows. However, it\u2019s important to note that progress in South Korea still places it only at rank 94 for 2024, adjacent to nations like Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Zambia, suggesting major progress is still needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2205625\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development shows that the gender wage gap continues to decrease year-on-year in South Korea, regardless of whether Yoon or Moon leads the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this still indicates a major wage gap, representing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/data-explorer.oecd.org\/vis?fs[0]=Topic%2C1%7CJobs%23JOB%23%7CEarnings%20and%20wages%23JOB_EW%23&amp;pg=0&amp;fc=Topic&amp;bp=true&amp;snb=9&amp;vw=tb&amp;df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&amp;df[id]=DSD_EARNINGS%40GENDER_WAGE_GAP&amp;df[ag]=OECD.ELS.SAE&amp;df[vs]=1.0&amp;pd=2005%2C&amp;dq=......_T&amp;ly[rw]=REF_AREA%2CAGGREGATION_OPERATION&amp;ly[cl]=TIME_PERIOD&amp;to[TIME_PERIOD]=false\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">29.3% as of 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making it the worst worldwide among countries that had published data in June 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2205626\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, the United Nations Development Program\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hdr.undp.org\/data-center\/thematic-composite-indices\/gender-inequality-index#\/indicies\/GII\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gender Inequality Index<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (GII), which tracks the difference between men and women in health, empowerment and economic status indicators, recorded ongoing improvements in South Korea\u2019s treatment of women.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike the other gender-related data, the GII shows South Korea as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hdr.undp.org\/data-center\/thematic-composite-indices\/gender-inequality-index#\/indicies\/GII\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one of the top performers globally<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> compared to other nations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2205627\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consequently, despite Yoon\u2019s perceived \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/10\/yoon-moves-to-scrap-gender-ministry-in-appeal-to-anti-feminist-supporters\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anti-feminist<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d stance, South Korea\u2019s global ranking in gender equality has improved during his administration, according to multiple global rankings systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This paradox may partially be explained by a growing global focus on advancing women&#8217;s rights and gender equality in recent decades. South Korea may have benefited from growing global momentum and increasing pressure at a grassroots level regardless of government positions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, the Moon administration\u2019s efforts, though limited, might have helped lay the groundwork for continued positive momentum during the Yoon administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>SUPPRESSING STRIKES<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a follow-up <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aparc.fsi.stanford.edu\/news\/troubled-waters-south-korea%E2%80%99s-democracy-crisis\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">piece<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Shin in May 2022, he warned that though Yoon\u2019s \u201cstrongman\u201d image may have helped during his election campaign, \u201cit would be unwise to stay on this path as a leader who must govern a democratic society.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking back, the Moon Jae-in administration was not immune from accusations of \u201cstrongman\u201d behavior. Key examples included <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eastasiaresearch.org\/2020\/09\/09\/moon-jae-ins-war-against-young-medical-doctors-in-south-korea\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on striking doctors, whom the former president described as \u201cdeserters\u201d who needed to be \u201cfirmly dealt with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eastasiaresearch.org\/2020\/10\/04\/photos-moon-jae-in-administrations-suppression-of-freedom-of-assembly-in-south-korea-on-10-3-national-foundation-day\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">criticized<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the Moon administration for excessively using COVID-19 controls to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/skorea-sets-up-checkpoints-bus-walls-block-protests-amid-covid-19-concerns-2021-08-15\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">restrict undesirable protests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Likewise, many <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/north-koreas-long-shadow-on-south-koreas-democracy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sharply criticized<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pressure on South Korean civil society and human rights activists to cease anti-DPRK activities as undemocratic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But under Yoon, the government has also used its power on multiple occasions to push forward major changes and clamp down on freedom of expression, association and assembly. Key examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swiftly moving the presidential office from the Blue House to Yongsan, adjacent to the defense ministry, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/05\/moving-south-koreas-presidential-office-is-a-step-in-the-wrong-direction\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">despite widespread criticism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking a hardline approach to the ongoing doctors\u2019 strike, threatening <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/trainee-doctors-walkout-tests-south-korean-government\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">legal action<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and suspension of medical licenses and mandating doctors\u2019 return to work under the threat of severe penalties;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Likewise, during a 2022 shipyard worker strike that the Yoon administration described as \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/view.php?ud=20220719000548\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">illegal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d the government hinted at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreaherald.com\/view.php?ud=20220719000548\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forceful intervention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to end it;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Threatening to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/11\/yoon-suk-yeol-faces-off-against-unions-as-strike-threatens-south-korean-economy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">deal sternly<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with strikes organized by unionized truckers and subway workers the same year;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All protests by disability advocacy groups being <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/12\/south-koreas-disabled-left-behind-in-urban-tech-boom-with-public-transport-woes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">banned<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the Seoul metro system, mirroring the Yoon government\u2019s approach to protests and strikes. Later, the leader of an advocacy group for people with disabilities was referred to prosecution for illegal demonstration charges.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While both the Moon and Yoon administrations have faced accusations of \u201cstrongman\u201d behavior, it appears that the Moon administration took this further than the Yoon administration in its multi-layered and sustained prosecution of human rights activists and anti-DPRK NGOs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, Yoon\u2019s swift relocation of the presidential office and hardline stance against labor strikes suggest a still worrying level of willingness to use government power to advance controversial changes and clamp down on freedom of expression, association and assembly.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2205630\" style=\"width: 1880px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2205630\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2205630\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/9.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1870\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/9.png 1870w, https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/9-935x500.png 935w, https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/9-1255x670.png 1255w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1870px) 100vw, 1870px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2205630\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>An illustration of government officials being questioned | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>LACK OF GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, the Yoon administration has faced criticism over its handling of major incidents such as the Itaewon crowd crush and the World Scout Jamboree debacle, with many accusing the government of failing to take responsibility for its role in these events.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the case of the Itaewon crowd crush, which killed at least 153 people during Halloween celebrations in Nov. 2022, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/10\/what-we-know-so-far-about-the-itaewon-tragedy-and-what-could-come-next\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">six police officers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were investigated for gross negligence in their response. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/10\/a-year-later-itaewons-tragic-halloween-and-koreas-quest-for-accountability\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A year after the incident<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the chief of Seoul police was eventually charged.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But at the time, Yoon blamed the police while <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/02\/how-interior-ministers-impeachment-could-worsen-south-koreas-partisan-divide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shielding the interior minister<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from criticism even though many held him responsible. The prime ministers\u2019 secretariat was also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/english.hani.co.kr\/arti\/english_edition\/e_national\/1065425\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">accused<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of deflecting criticism from the government.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Subsequent efforts to impeach the interior minister were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/07\/south-korean-constitutional-courts-verdict-on-interior-ministers-impeachment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rejected<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the Constitutional Court. Victims&#8217; families <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/02\/itaewon-crowd-crush-memorial-becomes-flash-point-in-political-fight-over-tragedy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">faced obstacles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in erecting memorials and urged Yoon to sign a special bill calling for an investigation, but the ruling party recommended he veto it, which he <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/01\/yoons-veto-on-itaewon-bill-stirs-controversy-ahead-of-parliamentary-elections\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">subsequently<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> did.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yoon\u2019s popularity fell in the wake of the Itaewon disaster, polls showed, with surveys about the government\u2019s response overwhelmingly negative about how it was handled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similarly, after the World Scout Jamboree <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/08\/typhoon-khanun-forces-retreat-from-south-koreas-problem-plagued-scout-jamboree\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">descended into chaos<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2023 due to poor planning, mismanagement and mass evacuations, the government again refrained from taking responsibility. In particular, the gender equality minister apologized but denied it was a fiasco.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But even when an independent panel later <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreajoongangdaily.joins.com\/news\/2024-04-21\/national\/socialAffairs\/Independent-panel-slams-Korean-govt-scout-association-over-Jamboree-debacle\/2030203\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">concluded<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that the government and Korean Scout Association had failed to deliver on key promises and responsibilities, the ROK government stated it <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-68902885\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">only played a supporting role<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in organizing the international event.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the debacle, which triggered major unease among embassies in Seoul, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/n.news.naver.com\/article\/119\/0002738701?utm_source=ground.news&amp;utm_medium=referral\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">65.6%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of South Korean residents polled evaluated the ROK government\u2019s handling of the affair as \u201cnegative,\u201d while the opposition called for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/02\/gender-ministry-vacancy-hints-at-political-calculation-ahead-of-elections\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sacking<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> key ministers for their roles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In another case, Yoon faced major criticism surrounding allegations that the first lady improperly received a luxury handbag from a pastor. Though he <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/01\/rift-between-president-and-ruling-party-chief-surfaces-as-general-elections-loom\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">initially<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> declined to apologize for the incident, Yoon eventually apologized for her \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/05\/yoons-press-conference-apologetic-tone-unchanged-stance-on-key-issues\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unwise conduct<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d in a press conference in May.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission eventually investigated the case in June, the finding faced backlash from opposition parties due to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.koreatimes.co.kr\/www\/nation\/2024\/06\/113_376391.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a lack of punishment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, the Yoon administration has also faced scrutiny over its use of special pardons, including for corporate leaders like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/08\/yoon-chases-public-opinion-as-he-pardons-samsung-prince-but-not-an-ex-president\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Samsung\u2019s Lee Jae-yong<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and allies like former defense minister <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/2023\/05\/yoon-hires-hawkish-ex-defense-minister-whom-north-korea-wanted-killed\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kim Kwan-jin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and former conservative president <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/12\/what-an-ex-presidents-pardon-means-for-the-future-of-south-koreas-opposition\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lee Myung-bak<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it should be noted that previous administrations, including Moon Jae-in\u2019s, also granted <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/08\/president-yoon-issues-pardons-ahead-of-liberation-day-business-leaders-benefit\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">special pardons<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for business leaders and even disgraced former President <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/skoreas-moon-likely-pardon-disgraced-former-president-park-yonhap-2021-12-23\/#:~:text=Korea's%20Moon%20pardons%20disgraced%20Park%20amid%20tight%20presidential%20race,-By%20Hyonhee%20Shin&amp;text=SEOUL%2C%20Dec%2024%20(Reuters),amid%20a%20tight%20presidential%20race.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Park Geun-hye<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall, the lack of accountability for major incidents like the Itaewon crowd crush, the World Scout Jamboree debacle and surrounding controversies like the first-lady\u2019s acceptance of a luxury bag, as well as pardons for senior business and political figures, plays a role in democratic backsliding by undermining public trust in government institutions and eroding the rule of law.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2205648\" style=\"width: 1880px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2205648\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2205648\" src=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/www.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1870\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/www.png 1870w, https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/www-935x500.png 935w, https:\/\/assets.korearisk.com\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/07\/www-1255x670.png 1255w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1870px) 100vw, 1870px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2205648\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Tents at the Jamboree site in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province | Image: Korea Pro<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>HOW THE TWO COMPARE<\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Korea Pro\u2019s<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> comparative analysis of democratic performance under the Moon and Yoon administrations reveals a troubling pattern of continued democratic backsliding in South Korea.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While both administrations have faced accusations of eroding democratic norms and institutions, the Yoon government appears to have intensified some of these concerning trends, particularly in areas such as press freedom, the treatment of marginalized communities and the use of government power to suppress dissent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the striking similarities between the two administrations suggest that the challenges facing South Korean democracy are deeply rooted and persist across different governments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The consistent use of politically motivated investigations, regular attacks on freedom of speech and the lack of support for marginalized communities indicate structural issues within the country&#8217;s political system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should South Korea wish to overcome these problems, both the government and civil society must actively work toward strengthening democratic institutions, creating structures to protect the rights of all citizens and beginning to foster a culture of transparency and accountability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only by addressing these systemic issues can future South Korean leaders hope to reverse the democratic backsliding that has been visible over the past decade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Edited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<div class=\"content-tags\"><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/tag\/business-economy\/\"><span class=\"tag\">Business &amp; Economy<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/tag\/culture-society\/\"><span class=\"tag\">Culture &amp; Society<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/tag\/domestic-politics\/\"><span class=\"tag\">Domestic Politics<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>South Korea has experienced systematic and sustained erosion of democratic norms and institutions since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May 2022, according to a comprehensive Korea Pro analysis of multiple indicators, with trends that began under the conservative president\u2019s predecessor not only continuing but significantly worsening in some cases. In the July 2020 journal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10407,"featured_media":2205619,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[24,25,27],"class_list":["post-2205618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-business-economy","tag-culture-society","tag-domestic-politics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How South Korea\u2019s democratic decay has worsened under President Yoon Suk-yeol - Korea Pro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/07\/how-south-koreas-democratic-decay-has-worsened-under-president-yoon-suk-yeol\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How South Korea\u2019s democratic decay has worsened under President Yoon Suk-yeol - Korea Pro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"South Korea has experienced systematic and sustained erosion of democratic norms and institutions since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May 2022, according to a comprehensive Korea Pro analysis of multiple indicators, with trends that began under the conservative president\u2019s predecessor not only continuing but significantly worsening in some cases. 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