Introduction

South Korea has undergone a phenomenal political transformation. The Korean War was a defining moment in South Korea’s history that not only consolidated the national division, but also left South Koreans with a protracted military confrontation with the North. Peace and security on the Korean peninsula have undergone a perilous process. South Korea still faces looming conventional and nuclear threats from the North. Until the late 1980s, the compelling policy priority of the South Korean government was clearly industrialization and economic growth. This policy priority slowly shifted with market liberalization policies undertaken in the 1980s. In the digital age, South Korean citizens, interest groups, and watch groups have become more actively engaged in online policy spheres than offline ones. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.