Liberalism Versus Political Equality in South Korea: Ideological Conflicts Around Democracy in the Postdemocratization Era

Abstract

This article explores the two competing democratic concepts of liberalism and political equality in Korean politics. In the development of Korean democracy, liberalism has evolved as a form of anticommunism as a way to pursue social stability; meanwhile, political equality has emerged by means of civic participation as a way to seek equal opportunities to be involved in decision making. This article traces how political equality has tended to expand from the time of Kim Young-sam to the Roh Moo-hyun administrations, while liberalism dominated during the administrations of Lee Myungbak and Park Geun-hye. In addition, this article identifies different trends of civic participation between the progressive governments that promoted civilian ascendancy and the conservative governments that showed uncommunicative leadership in the decision-making process.