LIBERTY REQUIRES ORDER:

Anarchy reigns in South Korea (David Scofield, 12/04/03, Asia Times)

Violence has increased markedly since the inauguration of President Roh, whose rise to power was expedited by promising concessions to nearly every sector. Roh eventually reneged on many of his promises and was quickly taken to task by the most militant. Unions staged illegal and sometimes violent walk-outs and demonstrations challenging Rohís presidency almost immediately. But rather than demonstrating his resolve to enforce the nation's laws or encouraging peaceful protests, Roh vacillated and ultimately acquiesced to various demands. Although Roh initially talked tough, often those who instigated violence and took illegal actions were not punished. The Korean Ministry of Labor has reported that the number of strikes and demonstrations has increased 6 percent from last year, while the number of workers involved has increased over 50 percent year on year.

All this violence is having a profound effect on the nation's economy. On November 12 the London-based World Market Research Center raised Korea's risk rating from 2.25 to 2.5 (1 being least risky, 5 being most) in recognition of militant and violent demonstrations. Samsung Economic Research Institute estimates that foreign direct investment for this year will be only US$1.2 billion, one tenth of the US$10.6 billion the country attracted in 1999. Roh's government, while displaying steely resolve in its dealings with North Korea, is long on rhetoric and short on action when it comes to dealing with disgruntled citizens who are now emerging from virtually every sector of society.

But beyond the sharpened steel, slingshots and incendiaries, these demonstrators pose the greatest danger not to police officers or to the economy, but to South Korea's institutions, especially legal institutions. In the past, the authorities could be challenged only so far. Once protesters had crossed a certain line, government repression - often brutal - left no doubt as to where power ultimately rested. But there has been a marked change in South Korean society. Apart from large protests and demonstrations, individuals are becoming more brazen in their defiance of the law. Corruption, graft and general malfeasance, both within and outside the nationís judiciary, has become commonplace. And with so many law breakers, including the lawmakers themselves, the efficacy of the law is now in doubt.

This phenomenon manifests itself almost every day, as motorists jostle and challenge police officers over traffic citations - something that can be quite a shock to people coming from countries where such actions would undoubtedly lead to immediate arrest. Indeed, South Koreans are openly challenging authority in nearly every sector of society. South Korea's limited experience with democracy has left the country with a fragile democratic foundation. Lately it seems that if you want to bring about social change, forget about using legal or peacefully avenues of appeal, but rather challenge the government head on. With recent events in South Korea showing that violence works, and that by protesting there is little to lose and potentially everything to gain, direct challenges to democratic authority are likely to increase in the near future.

Particularly in those countries that lack the Judeo-Christian underpinnings of liberal democracy, it is vital to have at least a strong and certain system of law and order, else freedom quickly becomes license.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 3, 2003 10:25 AM