Korean Politics FInal

Kominka policy

(1930s-40s) intensified efforts to turn Koreans into imperial subjects

    - language and cultural suppression

    - name change program 

    - political and military mobilization

    - educational reforms

    - economic and social integration

Juche

 a central ideology in North Korea, is often translated as "self-reliance," "autonomy," or "independence," emphasizing the importance of a country's internal strength and ability to be self-sufficient. It prioritizes national sovereignty, both politically and economically, and suggests that a country can prosper by relying on its own resources and people.

Songun

the "military-first" policy of North Korea, prioritizing the Korean People's Army in the affairs of state and allocation of resources.

Sŏngbun system

NK’s caste system. 3 primary castes.

Yushin Constitution

a severely authoritarian document adopted in South Korea in 1972. It granted sweeping powers to the president, including the ability to run for an unlimited number of six-year terms, and allowed him to rule by decree. This effectively established a legal dictatorship and was a key component of the Yushin era, a period of political repression and economic development under President Park Chung-hee.

“Bloody nose” strategy

"React to some nuclear or missile test with a targeted strike against a North Korean facility to bloody Pyongyang’s nose and illustrate the high price the regime could pay for its behavior,"

“Left of Launch” doctrine

a military strategy focused on disrupting or neutralizing a potential missile threat before it can be launched, rather than waiting for the missile to be in flight and attempting to intercept it

Tribute system

The tributary system served primarily as a way for China to establish and dominate foreign relations with neighbouring powers, but it also served to legitimatize the rulers of tributary states through their relationship with China. Powers that China considered more civilized than others, such as Korea, Vietnam, and sometimes Japan, were more involved in the tributary system than other states

Public Distribution System (PDS)

North Korea’s centrally planned system used for distributing goods, primarily food, to the population. The PDS faced significant challenges, including declining production and the collapse of the Soviet Union's support, leading to widespread food shortages in the 1990s and a decline in the system's effectiveness.

Chaebol

large, conglomerate family-controlled firms of South Korea characterized by strong ties with government agencies

March 1st Movement

a series of nonviolent protests in Korea on March 1, 1919, aimed at achieving independence from Japanese colonial rule

Treaty of Kanghwa

a significant treaty signed between Japan and Korea (the Joseon Dynasty) in 1876. It established formal diplomatic relations between the two nations, ended Korea's status as a tributary state of China, and opened three Korean ports to Japanese trade. This treaty marked a major step in Korea's opening to the outside world and ultimately contributed to Japan's increasing influence over the Korean peninsula.

Gwangju Uprising

also known as the May 18 Democratization Movement in South Korea, was a pivotal event in the country's struggle for democracy. It involved student-led demonstrations in Gwangju in May 1980, protesting the military coup led by Chun Doo-hwan

Kim Jong Un

a North Korean politician and dictator who has served as supreme leader since 2011 and general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea since 2012

June 1987 Protests

mass protests lead to concessions by the regime. The reforms, including direct presidential elections, led to the establishment of the Sixth Republic in 1987.

Korean War

a conflict fought from 1950 to 1953 on the Korean Peninsula, primarily between North Korea (backed by the Soviet Union and China) and South Korea (backed by the United Nations, primarily the United States)

North Korean famine

dubbed the Arduous March, was a period of mass starvation together with a general economic crisis from 1994 to 1998 in North Korea.

Lee Jae-myung

the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2025 SK presidential election. During the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, gained international attention for climbing the National Assembly building fence and documenting the event in a livestream.

Liberation of Korea

August 15, 1945: Japanese surrender, 35 years of colonial rule over. Korean people expected national independence but were soon caught in global power struggles

Six-Party Talks

a series of multilateral negotiations held intermittently since 2003 and attended by China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, and the United States for the purpose of dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program

U.S. military government in post-liberation SK

they administered the government until one could be established. They relied heavily on Japanese-trained officials. They cracked down on leftist groups and communist movements, fearing Soviet influence. Tried to restore basic services.

Kim Il Sung

a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he led as its first supreme leader from its establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994

Kim Jong Il

a North Korean politician who was the second supreme leader of North Korea from the death of his father Kim Il Sung in 1994 until his death in 2011

Jimmy Carter

crossed over to North Korea in 1994 for talks with Pyongyang, marking the first time a former or sitting US president had visited

Park Chung-hee

After seizing power in the May 16 coup of 1961, he was then elected as the third President of South Korea in 1963. He ruled the country until his assassination in 1979. He is closely associated with the “miracle on the Han River,” South Korea's transformation from an impoverished country into a major economy. He implemented economic reforms, supported chaebols, and normalized relations with Japan

Syngman Rhee

served as the first president of South Korea from 1948 to 1960. His presidency was marked by authoritarianism, corruption, and political repression. He was a strong advocate for the unification of Korea and opposed the peace talks that eventually led to an armistice.

Kim Young-sam

served as the seventh president of South Korea from 1993 to 1998. One of the most powerful rivals to the authoritarian regimes of Park Chung Hee and Chun Doo-hwan. First democratic transfer between civilian governments.

Roh Tae-woo

primarily known for his presidency of South Korea from 1988 to 1993, making him the first democratically elected president following a period of military rule. He also oversaw the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and pursued diplomatic initiatives like Nordpolitik. Later, he and his predecessor, Chun Doo-hwan, were convicted for corruption and involvement in the 1979 coup and Gwangju massacre, but were later pardoned.

Yoon Suk Yeol

He was removed from office by the Constitutional Court. He was impeached by the National Assembly in 2024 after his controversial declaration of martial law. Defined as conservative.

Donald Trump

visited the DMZ, where he shook hands with Kim Jung-Un

Victor Cha

an American political scientist currently serving as president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Barack Obama

His policy was called “strategic patience,” meaning he waited for North Korea to change its behavior before engaging more—but they didn’t. For SK, he worked closely and supported their military/economic partnership.

Kim Jong Nam

was assassinated because his half-brother reportedly feared him as a potential rival for power in North Korea.

National Assembly (South Korea)

the unicameral national legislature of SK. Legislative elections are held every 4 years.

Constitutional Court (South Korea)

one of the apex courts – along with the Supreme Court – in South Korea's judiciary that exercises constitutional review.

U.S. Military Government in Korea

About 28,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed there to help defend against threats from North Korea

Korean civil service exam system (Joseon Dynasty)

served as the primary pathway to government positions. It was divided into literary (mun-gwa) like Confucian classics, military (mu-gwa), and miscellaneous (jap-gwa) examinations. Gwageo was a meritocratic system, though eligibility was often influenced by social class and connections

38th Parallel

a line of latitude, 38 degrees north of the equator, that roughly divides North Korea and South Korea. It was initially established as a temporary military boundary after World War II, with the U.S. and Soviet Union taking over Japanese surrender zones above and below the line, respectively. While intended to be temporary, it became the dividing line between the two Korean states, leading to the Korean War and the ongoing division of the peninsula

U.S.–North Korea diplomacy

Relations between North Korea and the United States have been historically hostile. The two countries have no formal diplomatic relations.

North Korea–Russia relations (Ukraine war)

North Korea's involvement in the Ukraine war has involved providing Russia with military aid and deploying troops, deepening ties between the two nations. This support stems from a shared view of the United States as a hostile hegemon and a need for military assistance for Russia in the war.

U.S.–South Korea alliance

the US has a strong mutual defense alliance with South Korea, formalized by the Mutual Defense Treaty. This treaty commits the US to defend South Korea against external aggression and maintains a significant U.S. military presence in South Korea.

Kim Dae-jung

8th president of SK. Received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2000 for his efforts to restore democracy in South Korea and to improve relations with North Korea.

Soviet influence in North Korea

The Soviet Union significantly influenced North Korea in its early years, primarily through military and political support, shaping its development and ideology. The Soviets recognized North Korea early on, provided crucial aid during the Korean War, and helped establish its military and government. This influence led to North Korea's adoption of a Stalinist model of communism and the development of a personality cult around Kim Il-sung, who was supported by Stalin.

Korean governance committees

several committees operate within different spheres, including the National Assembly, government agencies, and the corporate sector. These committees play crucial roles in policymaking, lawmaking, and overseeing various aspects of governance and business practices.

North Korean Technocrats

individuals, often with specialized expertise in areas like science, technology, or engineering, who hold positions of power or influence within the North Korean government and military. They are increasingly seen as key to the country's rapid advancements in weapons development and are often hand-picked by Kim Jong-un. This group contrasts with the traditional bureaucratic elite, with technocrats playing a more direct role in advancing the country's strategic goals

SEZ’s

special economic zone. geographically defined areas within a country where different economic rules and regulations are in place compared to the rest of the country. These zones are designed to attract foreign investment, boost exports, and encourage economic development. Both Koreas have.

Sunshine Policy

a South Korean foreign policy initiative aimed at improving relations with North Korea through engagement and dialogue, rather than military confrontation. It focused on fostering economic and cultural exchange to build trust and reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula

Korean Wave

or hallyu is a cultural phenomenon in which the global popularity of South Korean popular culture has dramatically risen since the 1990s

Hard Power

the use of military and economic means to influence the behavior or interests of other political bodies.

Soft Power

a nation's ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion or payment. It's about cultivating positive relationships and shared values to achieve desired outcomes.

Track 2 diplomacy

a form of international engagement that uses unofficial, informal channels and non-state actors to foster dialogue and build relationships, often in situations where official negotiations are difficult or stalled

Park Geun-hye

first woman to be president. Impeached because of influence peddling by her top aide.

New Village Movement

a community-driven development program of the Republic of Korea in the 1970s. The movement contributed to improved community wellbeing in rural communities through agricultural production, household income, village life, communal empowerment and regeneration, and women's participation.

Developmental Dictatorship

a political system where economic development is prioritized over democratic reforms. In essence, it involves a dictator or authoritarian government that uses economic growth as a justification for maintaining its power and suppressing political dissent.

Kim Jung Un’s daughter

Kim Ju Ae

Kim Jung Un’s Sister

Kim Yo Jong, considered by some commentators to be a possible successor. Member of State Affairs Commission.

Comfort Women

a euphemism for the tens to hundreds of thousands of girls and women, largely from Korea but also from other countries occupied by Japan, who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II.

DMZ

a heavily militarized strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula near the 38th parallel north

Silla

a Korean kingdom that existed between 57 BCE [9] – 935 CE and was located on the southern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula. During the Three Kingdoms period.

Mount Paektu

The mountain is a major national symbol for both North and South Korea, and is mentioned in both national anthems and depicted on the national emblem of North Korea. North Korea claims that Kim Jong Il was born at a secret camp on Mount Paektu.

Samsung

a South Korean multinational manufacturing conglomerate. The largest and one of the most well-known chaebol in South Korea.

LG

multinational conglomerate that makes electronics, chemics, telecommunications, etc. One of the most prominent chaebol.

Lotte

multinational conglomerate corporation that makes candy, beverages, etc. and the fifth-largest chaebol in SK. 

Import Substitution Industrialization

an economic policy where a country encourages domestic production to replace imports, often with the goal of reducing foreign dependency and boosting domestic industries

Export Oriented Industrialization

an economic development strategy where a country prioritizes producing goods for export, rather than primarily for domestic consumption