I was fortunate to be able to witness their struggle for myself during my first visit to Korea in May 1987 as a college student. Watching students my own age risk their lives for something that was my birthright left an everlasting impression on me. This seems like an appropriate time to reconsider whether the Korean people's aspirations for democracy have been fulfilled. A quick glance at the newspapers would suggest that Korea's democracy is dysfunctional. The National Assembly is eternally deadlocked and the president's popularity has reached an all-time low.
Regionalism is as bad as ever and newspaper editors feel under siege.
The education and public health care systems are in dire need of reform. Many seem to have forgotten how far Korea has progressed since the spring of 1960 and how much better off the country is than the rest of Asia. When I have the chance to discuss Korean democracy at American universities, I always tell the audience that Korea is a model for countries making the transition from authoritarian rule. Achieving a virtually bloodless democratic transition is no small accomplishment. Secret military societies like Hana-hoi are no more.