Korea Policy Forum: The Resilience of South Korean Democracy

President Yoon Suk-Yeol's declaration of martial law and subsequent impeachment plunged South Korea into one of the most serious constitutional and political crises in its democratic history. One year later, this episode offers a rare opportunity to assess how one of Asia’s most resilient democracies has responded to severe institutional stress—and what this experience reveals about the country’s political trajectory. This Korea Policy Forum examines the past year through three interconnected lenses: the resilience of constitutional institutions and checks on executive power, shifts in party politics and political alignment, and the implications of domestic political change for South Korea’s foreign policy. By bringing together media, academic, and policy perspectives, the discussion moves beyond the immediate crisis to evaluate how democratic institutions have functioned in practice and how political and policy dynamics are evolving. 

* Please note this event will be hybrid.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher GW Institute for Korean Studies