Book

Foreword

 

A research team of Seoul National University's Institute for Future Strategies, Democracy Cluster, has

conducted a nationwide survey of ordinary voters in order to understand more precisely how Koreans

think about democracy and to identify pathways for the future development of Korean democracy. We

hereby publish the results in this second report, 2025 Korean Citizens' Perceptions of Democracy. If our

first report, 2024 Korean Citizens' Perceptions of Democracy, constituted an initial attempt to

systematically measure how Korean citizens perceive and evaluate democracy, this volume represents

an important follow-up that advances the research program and establishes a sustainable foundation for

longitudinal inquiry.

Since democratization in 1987, a variety of opinion surveys on politics and democracy have been

conducted in Korean society. Yet research that comprehensively and systematically analyzes the

perceptions ordinary citizens hold regarding democracy's core values, institutions, diverse forms, and

actual workings remains limited. Moreover, several international indices that assess Korean democracy

rely primarily on the institutional conditions for democratic operation or on expert evaluations, and thus

at times diverge from the democratic experience as actually perceived by Korean citizens. Proceeding

from this recognition, the Democracy Cluster endeavors to provide an understanding of democracy that

reflects the experiences and perceptions of ordinary citizens more faithfully, moving beyond expert-

driven discourse.

In this year's survey, we refined and improved questionnaire items and methodological procedures

based on lessons from the previous year, aiming to capture Koreans' democratic perceptions with

greater precision. The Democracy Cluster will continue this annual survey program, using accumulated

data to track long-term changes in Koreans' democratic attitudes. Through this effort, we also seek to

identify at an early stage potential threats to democracy within Korean society and to explore reform

strategies capable of enhancing democratic quality. We further hope that broadly sharing the data and

findings from this survey with the academic community and civil society will invigorate scholarly and

public debate about Korean democracy.

We extend our deep gratitude to all who have provided sustained attention and advice for the

Democracy Cluster's survey program and related activities, and look forward to continued interest and

support.

 

Han, Jeonghoon

Principal Investigator, Democracy Cluster, SNU Institute for Future Strategies