Politics of North and South Korea

Research Essay: North Korea and South Korea

Throughout the history of politics, our societies have encountered a large variety of different political and governing systems. From systems in which idealists introduced to our world, believing that they are capable of letting the world function and operate in a more efficient manner came two of the most popular political ideologies that most would recognize. They are known as democracy and communism. Even now during the twenty-first century, issues relating to the struggle between these two beliefs are still rising in different regions of the world where people are demanding more freedom. Knowing that both democracy and communism are pretty much the total opposite extremes of the other, often we hear events in which democratic countries such as the United States attempting to spread their political principles into other non-democratic areas. An interesting place to look at would be North Korea and South Korea, a place under the same name but ruled in totally opposite fashion as the North seems to valued control, while the South seems to valued freedom. Although people nowadays always encourage and promote individual rights and freedom, does democracy really allow a more efficient governing process? Or are the ways of communist still holding certain advantages over the idea of individualism? Perhaps a more in-depth look into the difference in North and South KoreaÐŽ¦s political system would bring answers to this question.

In a certain Point of view, Korea has 2 distinctive Political cultures and values. Starting off with South Korea, or the ÐŽ§Republic of KoreaЎЁ, the political culture of South Korea is a mix of native, Chinese and Western elements. These elements includes things such as the ÐŽ§belief that human society was an integral part of the whole universe interrelated with it in maintaining order and harmonyЎЁ, ÐŽ§acceptance of harmony, order, and consensus as major political values and purposes.ЎЁ, ÐŽ§preference for decision-making by consensus, rather than by majority vote or force of arms; yet at the same time, unwillingness to compromise on matters perceived to involve principleЎЁ, ÐŽ§emphasis on form and procedure, as well as substantive performance, as key elements in maintaining orderЎЁ, and a lot more1. In a certain points of view, South KoreaÐŽ¦s values are opposite to many of those of the West, as the West often value progress, individual freedom, change, adversary relations, equality of all persons, government by consent of the people, the importance of civic duty, and separation of political from economic and social affairs2. Due to the fact that it is similar to the ways of China and Japan, South Korea wants to modernize itself in order to meet the increasing expectations of its people, and for self-protection as a country. During this process, a mixed political culture is still developing from a freer course of action3. Although the country itself is significantly freer than those with an authoritarian system, South KoreaÐŽ¦s voting and citizen participation in other political events are still vaguely understood by the general public back in the late 1950s, as their political parties are often not clearly established, since the parties are still carrying much of the old fashion behavior in which the leader is leading for personal ambition and dictatorial tradition. It was not until February 26th of 1998 that South KoreaÐŽ¦s President Chun, peacefully retired and handed his power to the next successor after an 8 year president term, an act that created history for South Korea, the first event that represented a new way of government for law and public opinion4. During the mid 1980s, there was a debate between 2 major issues. The first one is regarding should the president be elected by the public citizens, or indirectly by voted by within the government as the way the government wants. The second issue is to pick between presidential system, the parliament system, and the duel-executive system of the French. At the end of October 1987, the final decision was made in which the direct presidential election5.

For North Korea, most of North KoreaÐŽ¦s political culture is also based on the old traditions but difference from South Korea, would be the fact that their government adopted Marxism as its political philosophy6. A country in which Feudalism is replace by capitalism, where workers eventually start a revolution and rejects capitalists by means of violence, where a dictator would soon be elected at the very end. The means of production are taken from private owners and controlled by a socialist system until the point where the country reaches the very last stage of communism7. As most communist countries often claims that they operation the country for common-wealth, same applies to North Korea in which everyone contributes to the common-good of the country according to the citizenÐŽ¦s skills and abilities8. The communist Party in North Korea is called the Korean WorkersÐŽ¦ Party, under the communist polices, other parties are permitted but none of then would have real political significance. Basic element in North KoreaÐŽ¦s Political Culture is democratic centralism, it is an idea in which everyone should have a chance to bring out their own views and preferences, as the government notice its citizenÐŽ¦s point of view, the government would attempt to carry out what the leader or dictator would believe is the right solution to the problems. The party in North Korea also believes that it is responsible for educating its citizens in Party policies through the use of propaganda and personal contact in which the leaders and officials would actually go and visit the people to provide guidance9. Also, in North Korea, it is very important that everyone is loyal and obedient to the leader and the country; the non-significant political parties would be an example of superiority of the Korean WorkerÐŽ¦s Party

Since North Korea and South Korea both adopted a different type of government, their political process of also difference. In South Korea, demands that the people create on their government are growing at a fast rate and therefore the government must response at the same rate in order to allow the state to function efficiently10. Ever since the liberation in 1945 and the Korean War, the first twenty years for South Korea was all about providing security and a social-economy. During that time from the late 1940s to 1960s, the demand for Food, clothing, shelter, education for the children, economic opportunity, and equitable distribution of wealth were the governmentÐŽ¦s mean concern. It was not until the late 1980s in which the personal liberty and civil rights were taught in schools or from other media sources11.