South Korea

Defector Testimonies in a Polarized Society: From Implausible Story to Political Controversy

By and | October 15, 2013

Nothing looms larger in the rear view mirror of South Korea’s democratic legacy than the South Jeolla Province city of Gwangju and the events that took place there in May 1980. That same democratization narrative was again abused in May 2013, this time along with some defector testimony of a most curious disposition.

Never Mind the North: Legacy Politics in the ROK

By | September 17, 2013

Thanks to the classic text “Beyond Charismatic Politics,” legacy politics in North Korea has entered the analytical lexicon in a big way. However, less well understood is the role of legacy in South Korea. Christopher Green investigates.