As a scholar of civic engagement in politics, I believe modern democracy thrives on an active and informed citizenry. Democracy isn't just about voting; it’s about taking action in various forms — rallying in the streets, contacting politicians, joining campaigns, donating time and money, volunteering for causes, boycotting products or even engaging in digital activism through online sit-ins and sharing political messages.

Koreans are quite active in terms of both conventional and unconventional civic engagement. Their voter turnout consistently ranks high compared to other advanced democracies. Political discussion is frequent in many online forums and on social media. And people often take to the streets in droves, filling up city centers. That’s exactly what happened during the recent martial law fiasco and ongoing political crises. It’s Korea’s active citizenry that fought off the unwarranted martial law and governmental overreach attempt.

What’s particularly striking about Korea’s street protests in the 21st century is their size and character. These rallies often draw hundreds of thousands of participants and, in some cases, millions — a scale that is almost unheard of in other democracies. Yet, despite their magnitude, they remain remarkably peaceful. Standing among the........

© The Korea Times