Populism in South Korea?: Before and After the 12.3 Martial Law Crisis
Dr. Hyeonjun Kim (Kangwon National University, South Korea)
Abstract:
The 12.3 Martial Law Crisis and the subsequent impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol sparked a debate on whether populism and the far right are defining features of Korean politics. While Western democracies offer ample reference points, Korean politics demands an operational lens that sees these two concepts as part of a unified argument. Rather than assuming that “K-style populism" fits neatly within Cas Mudde's populist Zeitgeist, this paper argues that we must examine the unique trajectory of South Korean political contention. By examining the historical and ideological contexts surrounding representative democracy and highlighting how these tensions are reflected in Korean society, we reassess the meaning of populism in the Korean case. Consequently, the 12.3 Martial Law Crisis can be understood not merely as a manifestation of populism but as a possible articulation of far-right political forces in South Korea.
Biography:
Hyeonjun Kim a Senior Researcher at Kangwon Institute for Unification Studies, Kangwon National University, South Korea. He earned his double doctoral degrees from Yonsei University and the University of Sheffield, with his thesis titled “A Cultural Analysis of the Relationship Between Nationalism and Populism: The Case of South Korea." He researches the theory of populism and nationalism, Korean political history, and the cultural approach to political science. His research has been published in Korean Political Science Review and Korean Journal of Cultural Sociology, among others. His current research focuses on the global refugee crisis and its connection to populism in the context of South Korea. Streaming / Video URL https://heiconf.uni-heidelberg.de/upyt-pmtv-ujq4-zw79 Veranstalter Prof. Dr. Anja Senz, Institut für Sinologie Homepage Veranstalter https://ostasien-aktuell.uni-heidelberg.de Kontakt Ostasien Aktuell Kontakt URL https://ostasien-aktuell.uni-heidelberg.de Alle Termine der Veranstaltung 'Vortragsreihe Ostasien Aktuell': Mittwoch, 04. Dezember 2024, 18.00 Uhr Animal Law in Korea: A Case Study on the Dog Meat Practices Yongbeom Choi
Montag, 05. Mai 2025, 13.00 Uhr University Ranking System and Hakbul Ideology in South Korea Dr. Jihye Bae (Chungang University, South Korea)
Mittwoch, 07. Mai 2025, 18.00 Uhr North Korean Defectors: Challenges and Perspectives Dr. Marianne Jung (Comenius University, Slowakia)
Montag, 16. Juni 2025, 13.00 Uhr Populism in South Korea?: Before and After the 12.3 Martial Law Crisis Dr. Hyeonjun Kim (Kangwon National University, South Korea)
Dienstag, 24. Juni 2025, 10.45 Uhr Migrant Lives, Divided Rights: Migration and Citizenship in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong Dr. Shirley Yang (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Mittwoch, 25. Juni 2025, 10.00 Uhr Credible Information, Strategic Signal, or Both? Authoritarian-Aligned Narratives and Public Opinion Dr. Ming Ma (Freie Universität Berlin)
Mittwoch, 25. Juni 2025, 18.00 Uhr Entrepreneurship as a Means of Individual Social Mobility and Community Building: A Comparative Analysis of Immigrant Chinese and Korean Communities in Los Angeles, USA Prof. Dr. Min Zhou (UCLA, US)
Montag, 07. Juli 2025, 13.00 Uhr Gender, Mobility, and the Archipelago: A Korean Picture Bride’s Involvement in Hawaii’s Lodging Businesses Dr. Jin Suk Bae (Soongsil University, South Korea)
|