US NED: "Korea, a Leading Country in Renewing Global Democracy... Hallyu as a Catalyst for a Democratic Future"

Contributed to US Foreign Policy Magazine Foreign Policy
Korea Hosting Democracy Summit is a 'Game Changer'

South Korea, which hosted the 3rd Democracy Summit, has been recognized as a uniquely positioned country capable of leading the renewal of global democracy.

According to the Presidential Office on the 19th, Damon Wilson, president of the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and Lynn Lee, NED East Asia director, made this assessment in a joint op-ed titled "South Korea Can Be a Democracy Leader" sent to the American foreign affairs magazine Foreign Policy.

NED is a bipartisan nonprofit organization established in 1983 to promote democracy worldwide, supporting over 2,000 democracy-related activities annually in more than 100 countries.

Regarding the 3rd Democracy Summit, President Wilson and Director Lee evaluated, "Just as the 1988 Seoul Olympics introduced South Korea to the world as a modern nation, the 3rd Democracy Summit will be an event demonstrating South Korea's ambition to expand freedom in the Indo-Pacific region and the Global South (Third World countries located in the Northern Hemisphere's low latitudes and the Southern Hemisphere)."

South Korea has been hosting the 3rd Democracy Summit in Seoul from the previous day through the 20th, including ministerial-level meetings, civil society events, and virtual summits. This is the first time the Democracy Summit, initially held by U.S. President Joe Biden in 2021, is being hosted outside the United States.

Damon Wilson, CEO of NED, is giving a greeting at the 'Global Digital Tech Network Meeting' held on the 17th at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Wilson and Director Lee particularly emphasized, "South Korea has achieved economic growth and innovation based on democracy, the rule of law, and freedom of expression," adding, "In this regard, South Korea hosting the Democracy Summit can be a 'game changer.'"

They further stated, "By showcasing digital innovation and culture made possible through values such as freedom of expression, South Korea can significantly contribute to spreading democracy," and "especially, South Korea's journey toward democracy can resonate with countries in the Global South."

The implication is that South Korea can establish itself as a leader supporting global democracy based on its experience of simultaneously developing democracy and market economy, as well as its recently emerging cultural assets. Based on South Korea's open society, it is innovating culture and technology through K-pop, K-drama, and more, influencing the daily lives of people worldwide. Therefore, consumers of the Korean Wave are likely to view South Korea's freedom positively, according to President Wilson and Director Lee's analysis. They predicted, "Someday, the Korean Wave may be known not only as cultural capital but also as a catalyst for a more democratic future."

Moreover, they stressed, "In the past, the South Korean government focused on security on the Korean Peninsula and economic growth. Now, President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasizes that South Korea, as a 'global pivotal state,' must play a more leading role in protecting and expanding freedom and human rights not only for South Korea but for all global citizens," adding, "South Korea's soft power, the Korean Wave, and technological capabilities can help achieve South Korea's aspirations on the world stage."