An article on Korea's democratic transition and consolidation

1. Civil Society in Democratizing Korea
Sunhyuk Kim

2.  Korea’s transition is unique.
 Eight-point democratization package (June 29 Declaration) was
announced in response to the demands of people in 1987.
 Who was a chairman of the ruling party?
 What was a ruling party in 1987?
Civil Society and Democratizing in Korea

3. Former President Roh Tae Woo (1988~1993)

10. 1. The government will amend the constitution to provide for the direct
election of the president.
2. The government will revise the law to ensure the free, fair, and
competitive election.
3. The government will grant amnesty to political prisoners, including Kim
Dae-jung.
4. The government will protect human dignity and extend the human
rights.
5. The government will abolish the Basic Press Law and restore
the freedom of the press.
June 29 Declaration

11. 6. The government will strengthen the autonomy of local government and
education.
7. The government will change the political climate towards dialogue and
compromise.
8. The government will achieve substantial social reform. It is about the
removal of corruption.
June 29 Declaration

12. The October Yushin refers to President Park Chung-hee's Special
Presidential Declaration on October 17, 1972.
It included unconstitutional martial law, dissolution of the National
Assembly, and suspension of the Constitution.
In this declaration, President Park announced four emergency measures
and amended the Constitution of the Third Republic on December 27,
1972.
The constitution at this time is called the Yushin Constitution, and the
period during which the Yushin Constitution came into effect is called the
Yushin system.
October Yusin [10월 유신]

13. Under this system, the president appointed one-third of the National
Assembly members and all judges, had the power to take emergency
measures and dissolve the National Assembly, and could be reappointed
an unlimited number of times during his six-year term.
Additionally, the method of electing the president changed from direct
election to an indirect election system.
The Yushin system was a one-person presidential system designed so
that the president, who held all three powers of administration,
legislation, and judiciary, could remain in power for life.

14. It can be defined as the process of making a system, organization, or
society more democratic.
In a broader sense, democratization involves the expansion of
democratic principles, practices, and institutions within a society,
with the goal of increasing political participation, protecting
individual rights and freedoms, promoting equality, and fostering
transparency and accountability in governance.
Democratization

15. Thus, democratization can be defined as “ a movement
toward establishing a popular political regime” , “involving to hold
free elections on a regular basis and determining who governs on
the basis of this result”, “transition to a more democratic political
regime” or “transition from authoritarian regime to democratic
system.”

16. 1. Decay of authoritarian rule = liberalization
2. Transition
3. Consolidation
4. Maturing of democracy = deepening of democracy
Stages of Democratization

17. Wave of Democratization:
“a group of democratic transition from nondemocratic to
democratic regime that occur within a specified period of time
and that significantly outnumber transitions in the opposite
direction during that period of time.”

20. There are three waves of democratization in the history.
1st wave of democratization: 1828~1916
2nd wave of democratization: 1943~1962
3rd wave of democratization: 1974~
Since 1974, the number of democratic countries has increased.
=> Samuel Huntington called “3rd Wave of Democratization.”

21. Why democratization?
 A high overall level of economic wealth
 Relatively equal distribution of income and/ or wealth
 A market economy
 Economic devolvement and social modernization
 The absence of feudalism in the society
 A strong bourgeoisie
 A strong middle class
 High levels of literacy and education
 Protestantism
 Social pluralism and strong intermediate groups
 The development of political contestation before the expansion of political
participation
 Low level of civil violence
 Low levels of political polarization and extremism
 Political leaders committed to democracy
 Traditions of toleration and compromise
 Elite desire to emulate democratic nations
 And so on …….

22. year Number of
Country
Number of Democratic
Country
% of Democratic
Country
1974 145 39 27%
1990 165 76 46%
1991 183 91 50%
1992 186 99 53%
1993 190 108 57%
1994 191 114 60%
1995 191 117 61%
1996 191 118 62%
1997 191 117 61%
2000 192 120 63%
2005 192 123 64%
2010 194 115 59%
2015 123 Above 60%
Electoral Democracy (1974~)

23. Propositions
1. result of a combination of causes
2. no single faction is sufficient
3. varies from country to country
4. sometimes successful but sometimes failure
5. a continuing process of change
6. multi-level phenomenon : mass public level, institutional level,
elite level

25.  What brought about democratization in Korea?
 Several possible factors
(1) External factor
(2) Pact (negotiation)
- What is this? It focuses the role of elite. Without elite fragmentation,
no democratic transition
ex) Latin America, Southern Europe , How about Korea?
(3) Civil society
– most important

26. 1. 대통령 선거를 직선제로 개헌하고, 선거를 통해 1988년 2월
평화적인 정부이양을 실행 (revision of constitution)
2. 자유로운 출마와 공정한 경쟁을 보장하는 대통령 선거법 개정(direct
presidential election by voters)
3. 시국사범에 대한 사면 및 복권 실시 (release political prisoners)
4. 기본적 인권 보장의 강화 (human rights)
5. 언론법 개정 및 언론의 자유 보장 (guarantee freedom of press)
6. 지방자치제 실시 (autonomous local government)
7. 정당활동의 자율성 보장 (guarantee freedom of assembly especially
for political party)
8. 사회비리 척결 (removal of corruption)
Eight-point democratization package
(8개항의 시국수습방안 – 629선언)

27. 전략선택이론
권위주의 세력
강경파 개혁파
반대세력
급진파 민중혁명 또는 재권위주의화 개혁적 민주화
온건파 현상유지 또는 온화한 권위주의 협약에 의한 민주화

28. Packed democratic transition
 Negotiation between political leaders
 Authoritarian government vs. opposition party
 Soft-liners and hard-linders

29. Philippe Schmitter (1936- )
Professor at University of Chicago, European University
Institute, Stanford University
Book: Transition from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative
Conclusions about Uncertain
Democracies. Co-author with Guillermo O’Donnell

30. Guillermo O’Donnell (1936-2011)
Professor at University of Nortre Dame
Book: Transition from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative
Conclusions about Uncertain
Democracies.

31. Civil Society
“a set of self-organized groups and movements that are relatively
autonomous from the state, basic unit of production and reproduction,
and political society, and are capable of political activities in the public
sphere to express their concerns and advance their interests according
to the principles of pluralism and self-governance.”
1. Involving citizen acting collectively in the public areas
2. Different from political society and economic (market) society

32.  Three junctures in Korea’s history:
1st: 1956-61; 2nd : 1973-80; 3rd : 1984-87
 What is democratic juncture?
Periods of collapse in authoritarian regime or democratic transition
Who? In particular, students and labor union
Democratic Junctures

33.  1st Democratic Juncture
- Collapse of Rhee’s regime by April Uprising
- Student
- Democratic transition -> Chang Myon regime
- Soon collapsed by the military coup
 2nd Democratic Juncture
- Antigovernment struggles -> Split of authoritarian regime -> assassination
- Military hardliners -> military coup (Chun)
- Chun extended the martial law and tool over government in 1980
 3rd Democratic Juncture
- Demonstration from various groups pressed Chun government
- Revising the constitution and adopting a direct presidential election
In all three democratic junctures, civil society directly or indirectly facilitated
authoritarian breakdown and democratic transition.

34.  Conventional wisdom for civil society in the process of
democratization:
After the democratic transition, the role of civil society has rapidly
demobilized
 How about Korea? What is an answer? What is civil society?
He defined it as “a set of self-organized groups and movements that are
relatively autonomous from the state, basic units of production and
reproduction, and political society, and are capable of political activities in
the public sphere to express their concerns and advance their interests
according to the principles of pluralism and self-governance”
 It implies two aspects of civil society.
1) It is distinct from other society
2) It is separate from political society

35. Two characteristics of civil society since 1988
What kinds of civil society groups does he mention in this part?
 Two groups: ( ? ) + ( ? )
 Expansion of citizens’ movement group
Since 1987, many groups emerged and engaged in various issues
Examples? Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, Korean Federation of
Environmental Movement, Korea Council of Citizens’ Movements
 Trial to find a new identity in people’ movement group
Examples? Korean Coalition for National Democracy Movement (전민련),
National Alliance for Democracy and Unification of Korea(전국연합)
How did they change?
Korean Trade Union Council, Korean Teachers’ and Educational Workers’ Union,
Korean Peasant Movement Coalition, / National Council of University Student
Representatives
Changes in Korean Civil Society Since 1988

36. 1. Who involved? Members are different.
- white-collar, professionals, religious leaders, intellectuals vs. blue-collar,
peasants, unban poor, students, and local residents
2. Goals of each group are different. What are they?
- gradual institutional reforms vs. radical reforms
3. Style of movement is different. How?
- legal and nonviolent (distribution of brochure / campaign) vs. illegal and
violent (strikes / demonstration)
4. Issue is different. How?
- various social issues vs. inequality issue
Difference between two groups

37. 1. Political Reforms
(1) Monitoring the process of the national assembly inspection of government
offices (국정감사 모니터링)
(2) Movement of Citizens’ Alliance for the 2000 General Elections
(총선시민연대의 낙천, 낙선운동)
(3) Movement for judicial reform (사법개혁운동)
2. Economic Reforms
(1) Monitoring National Assembly hearings on the financial crisis
(금융위기에 대한 국회청문회 모니터링)
(2) Minority shareholders movement (소액주주운동)
Reforms

38. 1. Monitoring the National Assembly Inspection of the Administration
 In 1999, forty civil society groups created Citizens’ Solidarity for Monitoring
the National Assembly Inspection of Government Offices(국정감사 모니터 시
민연대).
 Who involved? ; CCEJ, PSPD, KFEM and so on.(professionals participated)
 Goals? (1) checking attendance / evaluating performance
 (2) whether or not 166 important reforms were discussed
 What are 166 reforms?
 Process? What was a response from National Assembly? => refused
to cooperate
 Why?
Political Reforms

39. 2. Movement of Citizens’ Alliance for the 2000 General Elections
 In 2000, solidarity were created to change the fundamental structure of
electoral system.
 It is called Citizens’ Solidarity for the General elections (CSGE, 총선시민연대)
 Who involved? 412 civil society groups.
 What is Nakch’on and Nakson movement?
-Nakch’on : campaign against nomination by political party
-Nakson: the solidarity appealed to voters not to support the person who was
already nominated by political party
 Process?
- CSGE created a list for Nakch’on : 66 politicians were included
=> how? / What are criteria for a list?
Political Reforms

40.  Reactions from parties?
• What is National Congress for New Politics– 새정치국민회의
• Grand National Party – 한나라당
• United Liberal Democrats – 자민련
• ULD – angry
• GNP - ?
• NCNP – support the movement / Who else supported? : Religious groups
and Lawyers for Democracy (민변)

42. Result of 16th General Election
Party Seats
Grand National Party 133
National Congress for New
Politics
115
United Liberal Democrats 17
Others 8
Total 273

43.  Response from DJ government?
– Two sides
(1) Government ordered the abolishment Article 87 of elections law
(2) National Election Commission claimed that the movement violated the
election law.
 Result of the movement?
; 59 out of 86 candidates who were included in a list failed in the election

44.  Contribution
1. The movement showed the potential of civil society to change the
political society
2. The movement showed a potential to create the networks in various
Groups
3. The movement increased the political interest and political efficacy,
and reduced political indifference among Korean voters

45.  Limitation
1. It was negative campaign
2. It was narrow in terms of sphere
3. It didn’t overcome regionalism
4. Turnout was 6% point lower than the one 4 years ago
-Why?
Distrust towards politicians -> cynicism/negative attitudes-> lower turnout
As a result, it can be argued that CAGE movement reduced the turnout.
5. It didn’t overcome the fundamental problem in Korean politics.

46. 한국총선 투표율 추이

47.  In 1999, 13 civil society groups Citizens’ Groups’ Solidarity Roundtable for
Judicial Reform
 It created 15 reform tasks.
- special prosecutor system (most important!)
- introduction of law school
- reform for hearings on the appointment of important positions
- transparency for lawyer’s fee
- reform for prosecutor system and so on.
 What happened?
-Several political scandals, which were related with high-ranking government
officials. => Finally, the government and ruling
 Party decided to adopt a special prosecutor system
Movement for Judicial Reform

48. 정의: 고위공직자의 비리 혹은 위법 혐의가 발견되었을 때,
그 수사와 기소를 정규 검사가 아닌 독립된 변호사가
담당하는 제도
법률: “특별검사 임명 등에 관한 법률”
종류: 상설 특검(2014년 6월 19일 시행)과 별도 특검
차이점은?
특검

50. 주체: 국회와 법무부 장관
2조 1항: 국회가 정치적 중립성과 공정성 등을 이유로
특별검사의 수사가 필요하다고 본회의에서 의결한 사건
2조 2항: 법무부장관이 이해관계 충돌이나 공정성 등을
이유로 특별검사의 수사가 필요하다고 판단한 사건
특검

51. 특검의 임명절차 (제3조)
(1) 특검이 결정되면, 대통령은 특검 후보 추천위원회에 2명의
후보자 추천을 의뢰.
(2) 의뢰 받은 날로부터 5일 이내 - 특검 후보 추천위원회는 재적
위원 과반수 찬성으로 2명 후보자 대통령에게 추천
(3) 추천 받은 날로부터 3일 이내 - 대통령이 그 가운에 1명을 임명

52. 특별 후보 추천 위원회 (제4조)
(1) 국회에 둔다.
(2) 총 7명 – 이 가운데 위원장 1인
(3) 위원은 국회의장이 임명하거나 위촉
위원회의 구성:
법무부 차관/법원행정처 차장/대한변협 회장 /
이외 4명 – 학식과 덕망이 있고, 각계 전문분야에서 경험이
풍부한 사람으로 국회의 추천을 받아야 함.

53. 특검 결격 사유 (제5조)
공무원, 특검 임명일 이전 1년 이내 공무원 직을 갖고 있던 자,
정당 보유자, 특검 임명일 이전 1년 이내 당적을 갖고 있던 자,
선거에 후보자로 등록한 사람

54. 특검 기간 = 준비 기간 + 수사 기간 + 재판 기간
1. 준비 기간 : 20일 동안 => 준비 기간에 수사는 안됨
2. 수사 기간
수사 완료 시점 - 준비 기간 후 60일 이내, 이후 공소제기 여부 결정
연장 – 한 차례만 30일까지 연장 가능 (대통령의 승인 필요)

55. 3. 재판 기간 (11조)
1심 – 공소제기일로부터 60일 이내
2심 / 3심 – 전심의 판결선고일로부터 각각 3개월 이내
준비기간 + 수사기간 + 재판 기간 => 최장 약 1년 4개월 정도

56. 1. 1999년 9월 - '한국조폐공사 노동조합 파업 유도 및 전(前) 검찰총장 부
인에 대한 옷 로비 의혹사건 진상규명을 위한 특별검사 등의 임명에 관
한 법률’
2. 2001년 - '이용호 금융비리사건 특검법
3. 2003년 - 대북송금 특검법
4. 2003년 - 최도술 등 전 청와대 총무비서관 등 금품 수수
5. 2005년 - 유전의혹사건
과거 특검(별도 특검)

57. 6. 2007년 – 삼성 비자금 사건
7. 2007년 – MB 특검
8. 2010년 – 스폰서 검사
9. 2011년 – 재보궐 선거 사이버테러 사건
10. 2012년 – 내곡동 사저부지 매입의혹 사건
11. 2016년 – 박근혜 정부의 최순실 등 민간인에 의한 국정농단 사건

58. “박근혜 정부의 최순실 등 민간인에 의한 국정농단 의혹 사건 규명을 위
한 특별검사의 임명 등에 관한 법률”
[시행 2016.11.22.] [법률 제14276호, 2016.11.22., 제정]

59. 제9조(수사기간 등)
① 특별검사는 임명된 날부터 20일 동안 수사에 필요한 시설의 확보,
특별검사보의 임명요청 등 직무수행에 필요한 준비를 할 수 있다.
② 특별검사는 제1항에 따른 준비기간이 만료된 날의 다음 날부터 70
일 이내에 제2조 각 호의 사건에 대한 수사를 완료하고 공소제기 여부
를 결정하여야 한다.
③ 특별검사는 제2항의 기간 이내에 수사를 완료하지 못하거나 공소제
기 여부를 결정하기 어려운 경우에는 대통령에게 그 사유를 보고하고,
대통령의 승인을 받아 1회에 한정하여 수사기간을 30일 연장할 수 있
다.

60. 제10조(재판기간 등)
① 특별검사가 공소제기한 사건의 재판은 다른 재판에 우선하여 신속
히 하여야 하며, 그 판결의 선고는 제1심에서는 공소제기일부터 3개월
이내에, 제2심 및 제3심에서는 전심의 판결선고일부터 각각 2개월 이
내에 하여야 한다.

61. (1) Monitoring National Assembly Hearings on the Financial Crisis
(금융위기에 대한 국회청문회 모니터링)
• Demands from the civil society groups for the hearing.
• They request to punish the persons who were responsible for the crisis.
• - evaluated hearing to the press
• They were not satisfied with the hearing
• - Lawmakers lacked the professionalism
(2) Minority shareholders movement (소액주주운동)
• What is this?
• PSPD and CCEJ began this movement
• To increase accountability and transparency of Chabol
• Result? Some Chabol accepted the PSPD’s demands for transparent
management, such as external auditors
Economic Reform

62.  Why did not the role of civil society decrease in the process of
democratic consolidation?
1. Political society is problem.
Political party did not function well as a representative institution
2. Circumstances changed.
People were mobilized to do the collective action
3. The image of citizens’ movement group
; PDPD, KFEM, and CCEJ became more moderate, reasonable, and
accessible to the public
Continued Vibrancy of Civil Society:
An Analysis

63.  Democratic consolidation cannot be successful without highly
institutionalized political party
 What are problems of political party?
Confucian culture, boss politics, regionalism
 Condition for consolidated democracy? What?
Balance between civil society and political society
 How about this balance in DJ government?
 Conclusion!!
 What are the problems of civil society in Korea? Think this
question deeply!!
Conclusion