Leiden University Student Repository

Jovic, Marko (2020)

Youth Participation in South Korean Politics: a Study of the Youth Involvement in the Candlelight Vigils and Parliamentary Elections of 2016-2017.

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

This dissertation examines the role youth participation in South Korean politics had on the eventual impeachment of Park Geun-hee. In order to conduct this research properly, the literature on political participation, political apathy and relative deprivation were studied. Furthermore, this study provides an in-depth analysis on the history of student activism in South Korea since the Korean War which showed the long-lasting history of political participation under younger generations in South Korea. This tradition was further highlighted during the impeachment vigils against president Park Geun-hee, as student protests ignited the investigation into her and her allies. Moreover, this study researched he approval rates of Park Geun-hee during her time as president of South Korea, and looked into the connection between its fluctuation and student movements during her regime. This study shows the strength and long history of student movements in South Korea, as well as emphasizes how...Show moreThis dissertation examines the role youth participation in South Korean politics had on the eventual impeachment of Park Geun-hee. In order to conduct this research properly, the literature on political participation, political apathy and relative deprivation were studied. Furthermore, this study provides an in-depth analysis on the history of student activism in South Korea since the Korean War which showed the long-lasting history of political participation under younger generations in South Korea. This tradition was further highlighted during the impeachment vigils against president Park Geun-hee, as student protests ignited the investigation into her and her allies. Moreover, this study researched he approval rates of Park Geun-hee during her time as president of South Korea, and looked into the connection between its fluctuation and student movements during her regime. This study shows the strength and long history of student movements in South Korea, as well as emphasizes how the nature of student movements has changed over the last few decades. Finally this study highlights the importance students had in the beginning of Park’s investigation and the start of country wide protests against the former president.Show less

Author

Jovic, Marko

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

International Studies

Supervisors

Choi, Nankyoung

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en