Study of Nationalism and Korean Democratization: 1987-1993
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Abstract
This study aimed to examine the factors that contributed to the consolidation of democracy in Republic of Korea (South Korea) during 1987-1993. The research employed the threshold definition of the consolidation of democracy as avoiding a democratic breakdown and focused on an expression of South Korean nationalism during this period that influenced the civil movement within and outside the National Assembly. It also minimized the risk of democratic collapse and stabilized the democratic government. According to the findings, the South Korean people diverted their focus to the new expression of nationalism. When the country was falling into authoritarianism and coup d’états, the growing unease of the civilians led to dissatisfaction with the U.S. government that had worked with the South Korean government. As a consequence, the people focused on anti-Americanism. After the transition to democracy in 1987, negative sentiment toward foreign countries declined, while the pride of the nation was on the increase due to the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988, Nordpolitik, economic success, and democratization during the end of the Cold War. These aspects evaluated South Korea’s status in the national arena and made it become one of the world's leaders. Furthermore, South Korean success was an undercurrent that favored Roh Tae-woo’s administration and allowed Roh Tae-Woo to finish his term without any intervention by an external power and in a peaceful transition to the new government. This was a success in avoiding the democratic breakdown in the Roh Tae-Woo era.
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