ABSTRACT
In post-authoritarian South Korea, alongside the democratic transition, there has been a corresponding rise in neoliberal economic policies and the inception of “civil society” as the master narrative for social movements. Contrary to the past where state and society were fundamentally antagonistic, the current situation appears to reflect a shared understanding and acceptance of a neoliberal economy and society by both state and many civil society groups. However, there are important social movement organizations rooted in past minjung or people’s movements that continue to challenge the very basis of neoliberalism and are now positioned against both the state and civil society NGOs. Focusing primarily on new largely middle class civic movements (simin undong), the dominant discourse of “civil society” in contemporary South Korea marginalizes if not occludes altogether many social movements and institutions – namely those identified as minjung movements – from the “civil society” landscape.
