FROM THE SIXTH REPUBLIC TO CONTEMPORARY DEMOCRACY: TRANSFORMATIONS OF SOUTH KOREA’S POLITICAL SYSTEM
Keywords:
Key words: transformation, democracy, political institutions, Republic of Korea, constitutional orderAbstract
Abstract: The article explores the process of democratization in the Republic of Korea as a complex and contradictory phenomenon shaped by authoritarian legacies, constitutional reforms, and civic mobilization. It highlights the adoption of the Constitution of the Sixth Republic as a turning point that institutionalized separation of powers and provided a legal basis for democratic governance. The study analyzes the role of successive presidents in consolidating democratic institutions, implementing reforms, and addressing systemic challenges such as corruption, regionalism, and the dominance of presidential authority. Particular attention is given to the instability of South Korea’s party system, ideological weakness, and the prevalence of political defections, which undermine public trust and limit the effectiveness of parliamentary representation. The article concludes that despite significant institutional progress, South Korean democracy remains incomplete, as fragile party structures, persistent cleavages, and the centrality of presidential leadership continue to constrain the full realization of democratic consolidation.
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