Strong state and strong civil society in contemporary South Korea: Challenges to democratic governance

Abstract

This article examines the impact of Korean civil society on politics since democratization. Weak mediating institutions prevent the systematic inclusion of societal actors in the policymaking process, pitting an increasingly strengthened civil society against the state. Consequently, Korean state-society relations continue to remain contentious, posing challenges to democratic governance. © 2012 by the Regents of the University of California.