Half a century since the adoption of democracy in South Korea, the Korean peoples high hopes for popular governance have not been met. There is widespread skepticism about what Koreas implementation of democracy has brought to the nation and whether it will be able to respond effectively in the future to the demands of an evolving society and world. What accounts for the conservative complacency of Koreas democratic system? Do political parties in Korea legitimately represent the voice of civil society in legislating and policymaking on issues with a direct impact on the freedom and welfare of the people?
