Another View on the Relationship Between Democratization and Intra-Military Division in South Korea. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heo, Uk; Yun, Seongyi
• Is Part Of: Armed forces and society. Volume 40:Number 2(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 382
• Page End: 392
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: intra-military division -- economic development -- civil society -- democratization -- South Korea; Sociology, Military -- Periodicals; Sociology, Military -- United States -- Periodicals; Armed Forces -- Periodicals; United States -- Armed Forces -- Periodicals; 306.27
• DOI: 10.1177/0095327X13480135
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-327X

Abstract

Armed Forces and Society recently published an article, "Intra-Military Division and Democratization in South Korea" by Insoo Kim. In the article, Kim argues that economic development and civil society explanations for South Korea's democratization are not sufficient because conflict in the military undermined the ability of Chun's government to suppress the democracy movement, which made the transition possible. We refute Kim's argument because economic development clearly made significant contribution to South Korea's democratization by enhancing education attainment and facilitating industrialization and urbanization. Moreover, there is no clear evidence of schism in the military or among political elites, and the authoritarian leader Chun Doo-hwan agreed to change the presidential election system based on his political calculation.