Like the former Russian colonies in Europe, the South Koreans have recent experience of dictatorship. Which is why they are bolder in trying to prevent its return & why the British are blind to it happening here.
Also have to point out that there is much stronger social cohesion in Korea than in the US. Only a couple of years ago I started to hear comments from the US radical right suggesting that Democrats are a more dangerous enemy than any foreign entity. Now the President elect calls us the enemy within.
It does feel like the US has developed more political norms that protect unscrupulous presidents / presidential candidates. E.g., Nixon, who negotiated with the Viet Cong to prolong the Vietnam war, and Reagan who negotiated with the hostage takers to hurt Jimmy Carter's campaign.
It’s a Republican tradition. I expect that one day we’ll have proof that Trump colluded with Netanyahu to tank any Gaza cease fire deal until after Jan 20.
And the Brazilian one where the courts stopped Bolanero within 3 months after he tried a coup and he was prevented from running for office for 10 years.
Where are the checks/balances; guardrails; guidelines; accountability in the US? I'm old and stunned at what's been happening.
And Romania - which has taken active steps to prevent Russian interference in their Presidential Elections.
And France who are prosecuting Marine Le Pen, Putin's puppet, next March for embezzling EU money.
And Georgia which is currently out on the streets protesting against a Russian takeover.
Many of those (Brazil, Romania, France, and South Kora) have previous experience with dictators, while the US has really none (they have fought some but never had one elected). That is why they have no memory or idea of what can happen.
Is it the system, or the people? Honest question. In my mind, our society is sick. And sick people now rule our system. So much of what we see makes little sense.
SOUTH KOREA REPLACES THE U.S. AS THE WORLD'S "DEFENDER OF DEMOCRACY"
Not only did the Korean people face down Martial Law in an attempted power grab by their president, unlike our feckless Congress after Janury 6th, their National Assembly impeached him!
I spent months in ROK (Republic of Korea), early 90s. All seasons. Impressions:
- hardest working people in the world
- you want these people on your side
- disciplined, all have excellent education
- learning is important and teachers are gods
- elders get respect, lots of respect
Is it the system or the elected officials? Our lawmakers were not hamstrung by a system. They chose to keep a criminal in office. And honestly, if power is all that matters they made the right decision. Their criminal leader won them the WH again and their donors are free to pillage once more.
South Korea does not have a Senate. The National Assembly of South Korea is more closely aligned with public opinion than the United States Senate, making it easier for the National Assembly of South Korea to pass an impeachment motion compared to the United States Senate.
South Korea has gone through more challenges to the democracy than the US, which made them more resilient. The proof is how the US had handled Jan 6 riot and how America has voted for DJT again after that.
I'm so impressed by Koreans. Coup is stopped after some hours due to massive Backlash from parliament and civilians.
After some days the insurgent is impeached.
Everything back to normal.
If it would be in other countries like that? Doubtful
I’d be curious about the concentration of wealth across the population in South Korea compared to US.
Can’t help but think that America’s incredible financial success (and concentration of wealth) has affected the moral compass of the nation.
That they ousted a president in 2017 and appear to be ousting another one shows they’re on a better track than we are for sure. Just how did they get there so quickly again?
Quality of candidates seems to be a big issue there. It certainly is here…..
Even the Brazilian is more resilient. Perhaps it is a quality conquered painfully with a previous dictatorship. American didn’t learn with Trump 1. Unfortunately.
Per AP: Most notably, Kwak Jong-keun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, said that after martial law was announced, Yoon called him and asked for his troops to “quickly destroy the door and drag out the lawmakers who are inside.” Kwak said he didn’t carry out Yoon’s orders.
I think it's more that the military that clearly supported the coup wasn't willing to fire on civilians in front of cameras with US military bases down the street.
It stems from the moral rot of the politicians corporate elite and hard working Americans who were too busy trying to keep a roof over their heads to pay attention to what was going on in their country. I wonder what’s going to happen when the rest of the world turns its back on us?
The world is tired of the bully and the ignorance except for those who profit off it. Sadly American issues will become our issues - oh if only people were educated enough to realize that.
They are actually. The ruling party is as bad as Trump party. However, what made the majority of its supporters different from Trump party supporters is that they know what the dictatorship is like and where to draw the clear line. That is a big difference between SK and US IMHO.
Thank you, too. I think what would keep people in power in check is people's power. I think we better do much better job here to push back against DJT agendas. Impeached South Korean President was as corrupted as DJT. It pained me to see the news for the last three years under his admin.
Perhaps because they've already experienced the alternatives. We may have to be very uncomfortable for the next four years before we come to our senses, that is if our democracy can survive the fascist steamroller and his incompetent minions.
I was so excited to see them bringing a second impeachment. Like I’m living all my dreams of democracy vicariously through South Korea - you guys got this, let’s goooooo!!!
People sure do go out of their way to excuse the complicity of Dems, the opposition party who had 2 years of a trifecta + 2 years of mostly control and could’ve—but totally didn’t bother to—neutralize the threat.
That wasn’t the system’s failure, that was the people running it.
It's far smaller and more homogeneous. It's not surprising. The US is basically 50 countries strung together. Even if we combined some regions, it's still like a dozen or so countries with significantly different norms, values, economies, etc.
America is more wealthy, has a longer tradition of democracy, doesn’t have an enemy right at the border that threatens the existence of the country… all factors that should work in favour of defending democracy.
Yes just not as a united singular democracy with a singular will. The more people involved, and the more diversity of those people, the harder it is to make democracy work, as everyone becomes a minority.
Still working on “Hard not to escape the conclusion…” Everyone knows what you meant, but I’m not sure you said what you meant. ;) Is that equivalent to “Easy to escape the conclusion…”?
Totally. The GOP has been powergrabbing for decades- power’s sake. Secrets and lies are the best for scheming, but they are past that. They’re saying the quiet part out loud. So now it’s wrapped up in religion and driven by money-you don’t have to pretend you have morals and principles anymore.
Could it be that their system of democracy is constitutionally newer or younger than ours?
Is it the citizens of Korea who exercise their democratic voices and publicly demonstrate their convictions that enables resiliency?
Does the press and media convey the news honestly?
At least they have parties of legislators who stand up for democracy, unlike the US, where we only have one party that does. That’s the big difference.
They’ve actually had several impeachments AND removals. We’re so unwilling to admit making a mistake that we’ve made it twice with two interim opportunities.
It’s also more of a system, as opposed to a hodgepodge of bad habits, an addiction to dithering “debates,” a penchant for lying and a foundational belief in infantile stonewalling.
Speaks to the difference in political culture. Both US and S. Korea have institutions to deal with political contest. Yet only S. Korea have they been robustly used.
There is nothing wrong with the US system, other than pro-fascism appointees such as Garland and Wray protected Trump & other wealthy radical right wing conspirators from the system.
Turns out US democracy has been running on a goodwill bases for some time now while its easily exploitable fault lines were ignored or even overlooked on purpose.
The current system is totally unprepared to deal with the amount of power and wealth concentrated in so few individuals and companies.
We just arrested Bolsonaro's Vice president candidate for their coup attempt and witness intimidations.
He is a 4 star general.
First time in history we arrest a general.
Comments
So there’s that…
Where are the checks/balances; guardrails; guidelines; accountability in the US? I'm old and stunned at what's been happening.
And France who are prosecuting Marine Le Pen, Putin's puppet, next March for embezzling EU money.
And Georgia which is currently out on the streets protesting against a Russian takeover.
👏🏻 🥳
Hopefully contagious too
Yes, that's how strong countries should deal with a coup d'etat.
This country has been exposed for what it is: an economically robust but culturally decrepit degrading superpower.
Will the US bounce back?
Not only did the Korean people face down Martial Law in an attempted power grab by their president, unlike our feckless Congress after Janury 6th, their National Assembly impeached him!
https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-martial-law-yoon-impeach-6432768aafc8b55be26215667e3c19d0
- hardest working people in the world
- you want these people on your side
- disciplined, all have excellent education
- learning is important and teachers are gods
- elders get respect, lots of respect
After some days the insurgent is impeached.
Everything back to normal.
If it would be in other countries like that? Doubtful
Can’t help but think that America’s incredible financial success (and concentration of wealth) has affected the moral compass of the nation.
That they ousted a president in 2017 and appear to be ousting another one shows they’re on a better track than we are for sure. Just how did they get there so quickly again?
Quality of candidates seems to be a big issue there. It certainly is here…..
I think it's more that the military that clearly supported the coup wasn't willing to fire on civilians in front of cameras with US military bases down the street.
Bing bam boom!
Yer outa here!
The US. Balless
Hardly enough to make such a bold statement
Democracies are dying because politicians care more about reelection and donors than the people they represent
That wasn’t the system’s failure, that was the people running it.
Is it the citizens of Korea who exercise their democratic voices and publicly demonstrate their convictions that enables resiliency?
Does the press and media convey the news honestly?
Why?
https://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democracy-and-society/romanias-election-aftershock-7973/
The current system is totally unprepared to deal with the amount of power and wealth concentrated in so few individuals and companies.
He is a 4 star general.
First time in history we arrest a general.
https://bsky.app/profile/oglobo.globo.com/post/3ldbakyik5b2d