K-pop and autocrats: jolt to democracy lays bare South Korea’s two sides

While some say political turmoil has harmed country’s cultural reputation, others say it proves resilience

In the global battle for soft-power supremacy, a clear winner has emerged in recent years: South Korea. Spearheaded by the boyband phenomenon BTS, the Korean Wave has turned a country that few knew much about into a cultural behemoth.

But just days ago, as anticipation grew over the start later this month of the second season of Squid Game – the first season of which is Netflix’s most-watched show – real-life dystopia intervened when the South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, announced he was imposing martial law to root out “anti-state forces” and overcome political opponents who were obstructing his policy agenda.

Topics

South Korea deploys K-pop light sticks and dance in protests against president

Christmas carols, K-pop merchandise and food trucks create positive atmosphere as protesters seek to oust President Yoon over his martial law attempt. With blasting K-pop, glow sticks, food trucks ...
The Guardian - 2h
North Korea Breaks Silence on South Korea’s Martial Law Declaration

In its first statement about the turmoil over President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law decree, the North said nothing about how inter-Korean relations might be affected.
The New York Times - 19h
The department of flags: Syrian rebels lay bare Assad’s corrupt state

Transitional authorities grapple with bureaucracy filled with phantom jobs, pervasive graft and culture of obedience
Financial Times - 21h
South Korea's democracy held after a 6-hour power play. What does it say for democracies elsewhere?

A short-lived martial law decree by South Korea's leader last week raised worries about budding authoritarianism around the world
ABC News - 2d
The resilience of South Korea’s democracy remains in doubt

How this ends is uncertain, but the nightmare scenario would be a return of the military to the streets
Financial Times - 5d
Democracy in crisis in South Korea

The president faces impeachment after imposing martial law.
BBC News - 6d
A stress test for South Korea’s democracy

Key institutions held firm against the president’s reckless move
Financial Times - Dec. 4
Martial law in South Korea

South Korea’s president hands power to the military
BBC News - Dec. 3
Protests lay bare a clash of values and interests as Georgia navigates a Russia-West standoff

Georgia is convulsed by political upheaval again after its pro-Moscow government, fresh off parliamentary elections denounced as rigged by its critics, decided to suspend negotiations for the small ...
ABC News - Dec. 2