Social Movements

This chapter describes the developments and macrostructural changes of South Korean social movements after democratization in 1987. Several aspects will be highlighted: First, the developments in the number of civil society organizations, citizens’ participation in civil society activities, and non-violent protest culture have been accelerated since the 2000s. Second, the social movement sector has been differentiated into independent issue areas, leading to more diversity, but also to uneven development between movement areas. Third, with the rise of networked social movements, the communication and mobilization structures and the broader ecosystem of social movements have become increasingly decentralized. Fourth, not only has the ideological division between progressive and conservative movements intensified, but also radical right-wing movements are spreading. Fifth, most recently, a new generation of social movements representing the voices of women, youth, precarious workers, and local communities is growing quickly.