Reassessing the Park Chung Hee Era, 1961-1979: Development, Political Thought, Democracy, and Cultural Influence

6. Democracy in South Korea: An Optimistic View of ROK Democratic Development

InTRoDuCTIon: THE PESSIMISTIC vIEW on THE FuTuRE oF SouTH KoREAn DEMoCRACY Most of the English literature on democratic development in South Korea is pessimistic. While almost all scholars agree that democracy has been achieved at the minimalist level, i.e., fair elections appear to have become the only method for choosing political leaders—the long-term prospects for “consolidated democracy” are suspect for a number of reasons. “Consolidation” requires the adoption of attitudes and values similar to those of Western democratic states that have endured over a period of two hundred years. The reasons presented for this pessimistic view consist of the following arguments: Corruption Because there is too much corruption among politicians and government officials, the public has either lost, or will lose, confidence in the political system. Moreover, state-capital (the chaebŏl) collusion in effect prevents democracy. Bossism The history of politicians and political parties shows the prevalence and endurance of leader-follower groups. The leaders take their followers in and out of parties, rendering parties unstable. This is another reason for growing disgust with politicians. 6 Democracy in South Korea: An optimistic view of RoK Democratic Development1 James b. palais james b. Palais 108 Parties focus on personalities rather than issues: Voters are either confused or disgusted because they are not presented with clear-cut policy differences and either have or will lose confidence in parties, and by extension, the democratic system. Regionalism The voters vote according to regions without caring what positions candidates from the region take on different issues. Exclusion Exclusion of groups like women, farmers, workers, and the poor and homeless from party membership and leadership, and failure of the parties to respond to the demands of those groups prevents “consolidation” of democracy . The ingrained, conservative force of Confucianism obstructs if not opposes democracy: This is seen most clearly in masculine prerogatives; discrimination against women; and favor for collectivism, tying the individual to the family or group, versus the individualism that is necessary for democratic politics. In this context, the ROK presidency is too powerful for healthy democracy. Failure of ROK Presidents to Achieve Goals The failure of recent presidents to achieve economic prosperity and democratic development has led to nostalgia for past dictators whom the public believes were more efficient than democratic presidents. Political progress toward “consolidated” democracy takes too long. Because democratic progress is slow, the public loses faith in the democratic system. Before analyzing each of these propositions, however, it is necessary to consider the relationship between dictatorship and democratic development, particularly between Park Chung Hee’s (Pak Chŏnghŭi) dictatorship and the growth of democratic forces during his regime. Democracy in South Korea: An optimistic view of RoK Democratic Development 109 Park Chung Hee and Democracy One of the factors in the development of democracy in South Korea that has not been adequately appreciated is the importance of the struggle both against dictatorship and for democracy and human rights that took place from 1945 to 1987. South Korea did not become democratic (at least with respect to voting, elections, free speech, and association) in 1987 because the U.S. granted the model of a democratic constitution to the Koreans in 1948, or successfully chose democratic leaders in 1945. The U.S. was unable to find middle-of-the-road liberal democrats to provide political leadership in 1945. For that reason, it ended up supporting Rhee and right-wing anti-communists , many of whom had collaborated with the Japanese during the colonial period because in the cold war, U.S. presidents were more concerned about maintaining stability in South Korea against communist expansion than they were about promoting democratic procedures. Syngman Rhee (Yi Sŭngman) manipulated the constitution, the electoral system, and the national assembly as a means of consolidating his power, and he corrupted the administration of justice to punish his political enemies. Yet some of the national assemblymen tried to pass decent laws under the terms of the constitution, and others—both in the assembly and outside in the world of newspapers and publishing—did their best to combat dictatorial methods. I witnessed some of those things when I was in the army in Korea in 1957 and 1958. When Park Chung Hee seized power in 1961 and established a military junta to rule the country for two years, he did not appear interested in re-establishing civil government, but the Kennedy administration pressured him...