Videos

South Korea’s democracy has evolved through decades of civic participation and solidarity. From the April Revolution of 1960 and the democratization movement of 1987 to the candlelight protests and more recent demonstrations symbolized by light sticks, citizens have played a pivotal role in defending democracy and driving political change.

This video revisits key moments in South Korea’s democratic history and explores the challenges facing its democracy today, as well as the tasks that lie ahead. It also highlights the Democracy Conference jointly organized by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Korea Office and Sauijae in the aftermath of the December 3 martial law crisis, reflecting on the importance of democratic resilience and inclusive dialogue in shaping the future of South Korean democracy.

The declaration of martial law on December 3 was brought to an end through the swift response of the National Assembly and civil society. However, its shock and repercussions continue to leave deep marks on South Korean society. Structural challenges such as hatred, social division, and political polarization remain pressing concerns. In response, FES Korea, together with MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society and local civil society organizations, held a series of citizen dialogues in six cities across South Korea to assess the current state of Korean democracy and discuss directions for institutional reform. This video brings together key insights and perspectives from those regional discussions. (Note: The video is in the Korean language)

Asia is the most important geopolitical theatre of the 21st century. What will be the impact of the changing geopolitical landscape on #SouthKorea and Inter-Korean relations? How will South Korea position itself between the US and China? And what role can the European Union play on the Korean Peninsula? The video aims at contributing to the discussion of these questions and to the overall public discourse on The New #Geopolitics of Asia.

South Korea is the fastest ageing society in the world. In 2020, South Korea´s fertility rate dropped to the lowest rate of any country in the world. Korea´s population has started to decline and working age population will shrink rapidly. What needs to be done to address the challenges of an aging society?

A new online director’s guide walks you through “The Things Imprisoned in the World of Words”, an exhibition about South Korea’s National Security Act, organized and supported by hundreds of people and civil society organizations including FES Korea.

Is the German reunification still relevant for the Korean peninsula today? To explore the significance of the German reunificationfor the Korean peninsula, FES Korea talked to South Koreans and Germans.