South Korea defends democratic legitimacy following martial law crisis and new government

It’s been a turbulent but inspiring year for Koreans. The declaration of martial law last winter plunged the country into uncertainty, but it wasn’t chaos that followed; It was a reaffirmation of the people’s unshakable faith in democracy.

The “Revolution of Light”, which resulted in the peaceful election of a new government, reminded the world that the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea was based on the collective conscience of its citizens, not on the will of any one ruler.

Some observers abroad perceived the intensity of the political transition in Korea as a sign of fragility or deviation from democratic norms. In fact, this intensity is the pulse of democracy itself. Our debates are often fierce, our elections hotly contested, and yet our institutions endure. This resilience, born of experience, sacrifice, and civic discipline, is Korea’s greatest democratic asset.

Since taking office, President Lee Jae Myung has moved quickly to strengthen the foundations of democracy at home and renew the Republic of Korea’s partnership with the United States. In his words and actions, President Lee recognized the vital importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and strengthened pragmatic cooperation with President Donald Trump, placing our intertwined security and economic goals and shared values ​​at the center of his agenda.

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This approach reflects Korea’s self-confidence as a mature democracy and a responsible global partner. President Lee sees the alliance not only as a legacy of the past, but also as a living partnership that adapts to new challenges, from regional security and economic cooperation to the advanced technology of the future.

This vision was clearly evident at the August summit, where the two leaders spoke with candor and mutual respect and underlined their shared commitment to building what they called the “Comprehensive Strategic Alliance for the Future.” President Trump’s statement, “We get along very well,” reflected the new tone of trust that has shaped this alliance.

President Lee and the entire Korean government have meticulously ensured that we never for a moment fail to fulfill our responsibilities as friends and allies, even as we focus on restoring our democratic system. This makes some of the comments depicting Korea’s new leadership as undemocratic, illegitimate, and even hostile to religion very surprising and distressing. Such claims, often repeated in online forums and even on opinion pages, bear little resemblance to reality and hinder our collective efforts towards real solutions.

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Let’s be clear: The government of the Republic of Korea is democratically elected. President Lee emerged victorious in a fair and transparent vote that was recognized worldwide for meeting the highest electoral standards. Neither Korea’s independent judiciary nor opposition parties objected to the outcome.

Since then, the principles of the rule of law have been strictly observed. Ongoing legal proceedings regarding the previous administration’s declaration of martial law and other allegations of abuse of power are being handled by independent prosecutors appointed by the National Assembly, not the Presidency. These legal actions demonstrate the rule of law, not its erosion.

Recent claims that the new government is “anti-Christian” are equally unfounded. Such narratives appear to stem from ongoing investigations into allegations of bribery involving church funds, but to people familiar with Korea, the notion of bias is patently absurd.

Christianity, along with Buddhism and other faiths, has played an integral role in the social and cultural life of Korea. Christian missionaries helped establish many of the country’s leading educational and medical institutions; countless Christians sacrificed their lives for Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule.

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Today, a large portion of the Korean population identifies as Christian, and millions of both Protestants and Catholics contribute to the fabric of Korean society. These individuals, like people of all faiths, continue to play a vital role in civic life, community service, and the pursuit of national unity.

President Lee himself is a man of Christian faith. He and his administration have the deepest respect for the freedom of religion and expression protected by our Constitution. Like all Koreans, they are openly proud of the heritage of Christianity and believe that religious freedom in the Republic of Korea rivals religious freedom anywhere in the world.

Portraying legitimate and legal efforts to restore democratic order as a campaign against Christianity is not only misleading, but also undermines the respect for Christian heritage and religious freedoms that are central to Korea’s democratic values.

Because Koreans are committed to democracy, fierce debate and even disagreements are more than welcome. This is what the new Korean government has tried to protect so strongly over the past four months. But mischaracterizing what is happening does nothing to advance mutual understanding or produce real solutions for both Koreans and Americans.

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The Republic of Korea and the United States have maintained our alliance with eighty years of courage and sacrifice. Today’s challenges require nothing less. Under President Lee’s administration, Americans can be confident that they have a friend and partner who shares core values ​​and is committed to the success of both nations.

Look no further than the summit on August 25, where the two leaders ushered in the era of the “Comprehensive Strategic Alliance for the Future” that looks confidently towards a more secure, democratic and prosperous future for both countries. Korea’s story is not one of uncertainty but of faith: a free people, tested by history, can renew both its democracy and its alliance with courage and grace.

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