This article examines democratic recovery and economic challenges in South Korea, suggesting implications for resilience and diplomacy.
In 2025, South Korea experienced a historic transition, moving from the turmoil of martial law to a new administration under President Lee Jae-myung. This article examines this “democratic comeback” following the presidential impeachment and early election, while highlighting persistent challenges to institutional resilience. Domestically, the expansion of special prosecutors and the debates over prosecutorial reform deepened concerns about the judicialization of politics. Internationally, Seoul navigated a transactional alliance with the second Trump administration while leveraging the Gyeongju APEC summit for diplomatic recalibration. Economically, the government faced slowing growth and US trade uncertainties while advancing an AI-driven development strategy. In contrast, the cultural sector thrived, with the popular movie KPop Demon Hunters demonstrating the nation’s robust soft power.
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Jin et al. (2026) studied this question.
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