Who rejects democracy? A South Korean case

초록

While South Korea satisfied the 'two-turnover test' over a decade ago, its democratic trajectory has since been characterized by a burgeoning tension between vulnerability and resilience. Although the Korean electorate maintains a robust theoretical commitment to democratic values, there remains a persistent and explicit preference for authoritarian leadership. Alarmingly, support for democracy has waned as the demand for 'strongman rule' has intensified since the early 2000s. Utilizing a nationally representative, face-to-face survey, this study investigates the psychological roots of this vulnerability by examining citizen preferences regarding regime types and democratic principles. The findings identify Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) as a consistent and powerful predictor of preferences for non-democratic governance. Ultimately, this research underscores the fragility of democratic endurance by demonstrating how ingrained psychological predispositions can facilitate the deconsolidation of a seemingly established democracy.

키워드