Compressed Modernity & Democracy Movement

Week 7: Compressed Modernity & Democracy Movement

•  Focuses on South Korea's unique experience of modernization and democratic movements.

Compressed Modernity*

• A civilizational condition where economic, political, social, and/or cultural changes occur rapidly in a condensed timeframe, both temporally and spatially.
• This rapid change leads to the creation of a complex and fluid social system.
• South Korea's transition from a low-income agricultural economy to an advanced industrial economy occurred remarkably fast, within a span of several decades.
• This rapid development wasn't solely due to internal efforts but was heavily influenced by external forces like American military presence and asymmetrical international relations.

Five Dimensions of Compressed Modernity*

• Dimension I (Time/Era): Condensation/Abridgement

  • South Korea's rapid economic development, transitioning to advanced industrialization in a short time span, compared to Western experience
  • Modernization achieved in merely over half a century, contrasting to the centuries-long processes in the West.
  • Driven by asymmetrical international relations, exploiting the politico-military and cultural influence of America after the liberation.

• Dimension II (Space/Place): Condensation/Abridgement

  • Rapid urbanization and industrialization in Korea mirroring other countries, regardless of geographical distances.
  • Urban development transformed into spaces alienated from indigenous culture.

• Dimension III (Time/Era): Compression/Complication

  • Coexistence of traditional, modern, and postmodern values and cultures in diverse time zones.
  • Observed in the complex domains of ideology, culture, and non-material realms.
  • South Korea grappled with the compression of historical milestones, interwoven into everyday life.
  • Intense competition, collision, articulation, and compounding of modern and traditional elements shaped history.

• Dimension IV (Space/Place): Compression/Complication

  • Diverse social elements generated from different regional contexts coexist within the same time-space in Korea.
  • Urban development prioritized over rural areas, resulting in imbalances within the country.

• Dimension V (All-encompassing): Deals with how the social and cultural phenomena stemming from the other four dimensions shape further social and cultural elements in Korea.

• Interconnectedness of past, present, and regional influences (e.g., Korea and the West).

Conditions of Compressed Modernity*

• Forced skewed insertion into modernity:  Modernity was imposed on Korea, as seen by Japan's modernization efforts, leading to an accelerated but structurally distorted experience.
• Cold War as a modernization regime: US military protection and economic aid were central to Korea's modernization efforts.
• Civil war and post-war reconstruction: Rapid modernization efforts were necessary to recover from war damage, prioritizing national development.
• Statist order and catch-up development: The military-led state prioritized rapid industrialization, potentially at the expense of social and cultural harmony.
• Modernization instead of social revolution: The existing tradition was suppressed, and an effort to redefine 'modernization' was adopted as a nationalist project.
• Advantages and pitfalls of late development/dependent modernization: Korean development benefited from international political economy but faced challenges with dependency, notably from the rise of China.

Democracy Movement*

• Focuses on the different stages and key factors related to South Korea's democratic movements.
• Early movements, such as the April 19 Revolution (1960) and subsequent uprisings, are examined.

RHEE Syngman Administration

• South Korea's first republic from 1948-1960.
•   Indirect elections were originally stipulated in the constitution.
• Later amendments in 1952 and 1954 led to direct elections and a ban on multiple presidential terms.

The April Revolution (1960)

•   A student-led movement against the rigged 1960 election and President Rhee's dictatorship.
• It was a turning point in Korea's history, signaling the potential for social movements and the power of student mobilization.

Park Chung-hee Administration

• A military coup led to the Park Chung-hee's rule and subsequent 18-year dictatorial regime (1961-1979).
• Repeated constitutional amendments maintained his rule.
• Demonstrations against dictatorship were often violently suppressed.

Socioeconomic Foundations of Democracy

• Remarkable Economic Growth: Economic growth during Park Chung-hee's rule, focusing on industrial planning and export-oriented policies.
• Industrial Complexes: Industrial clusters promoted synergy, technological exchange, and economic growth.
• Higher Education: Education was instrumental in fostering a skilled labor force for rapid industrialization.

Student Movement in PARK's Presidency

• Student protests against the repressive policies were significant during the Park Chung-hee era.
• These efforts included the 1972 amendment and 6-year presidency without reappointment limit adjustments, triggering student movements, and subsequent protests.

The Labor Movement

•   Labor movements played a vital role in South Korea's democratic journey, as social forces alongside students and intellectuals.

Gwangju Uprising (1980)

• A significant anti-authoritarian movement after a military coup that resulted in brutal suppression of protestors in Gwangju.

5.18 Gwangju Uprising in 1980

• A large-scale movement by university students and the general public protesting against the newly established military government.

June Democracy Movement (1987)

• Pro-democratic resistance movement in South Korea.
• Faced challenges with the very limited student movement with many aspects related to the highly repressive policies of the time.
• Student movements continued to grow, supported by many groups.
• Key social catalysts such as workers, and religious leaders.

Civil Administrations

• Focuses on civil administrations like the Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung administrations, with their domestic policies and international relations.
• Included aspects like Sunshine Policies, and engagement with neighboring countries.

Candlelight Revolution

• A large-scale protest campaign protesting the Park Geun-hye government.
• Stemmed from various scandals related to the government and misrule.
• Protests were connected to social and political issues leading to the demand for genuine political change.

Group Paper and Presentation

• Provided instructions for group assignments on analyzing Korean movies based on provided frameworks like familism, inequality and gender, Confucianism, globalization, and other factors.

Explore South Korea's unique journey through compressed modernity and its democratic movements. This quiz delves into the rapid socio-economic changes that reshaped the country and the various factors influencing these transformations. Test your knowledge on the dimensions and impacts of modernization in South Korea.