BU Today: Prof. Hahm Shares Perspective on South Korea’s Political Challenges
On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law, marking the first such declaration since 1979. Prof. Hyeouk Chris Hahm from BU School of Social Work shared an opinion piece that this event is a stark reminder that democracy is fragile and must be actively safeguarded. By highlighting the historical weight of such actions in South Korea, where martial law has been associated with authoritarian rule, she expresses concern over the potential erosion of democratic norms.
Excerpt from “POV: South Korea’s Crisis Taught Me That Democracy Is Never Guaranteed” by Prof. Hahm:
One of the worst things that can be done in a democratic society is threatening citizens with violence instead of respecting their differences in opinion and trying to reach a compromise. The president has an immense responsibility to protect freedom and the individual right to express oneself, as well as to respect differences among citizens. Instead, President Yoon declared the use of military force while abusing his power to oppress the opposition party and citizens, failing to resolve conflicts through democratic processes and debate.”