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Korea’s Quest for Economic Democratization pp 1–20Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Hell Joseon: Polarization and Social Contention in a Neo-liberal Age

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Abstract

Korean society is changing rapidly. It is also becoming more polarized, with frustration and discontent mounting. Starting from 2012 the term economic democratization (경제 민주화, Gyeongje Minjoohwa) has become a common expression in Korean politics and society, with parties on either side of the political spectrum seeking to appropriate it and capitalize on popular grievances. With income inequality growing and social polarization deepening, the demand for a fairer re-distribution of wealth across society is now the ‘Zeitgeist’ in Korea. The chapter embeds the themes discussed in the remainder of the book in scholarly debates and also provides a socio-economic and political background.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Youngmi Kim

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  1. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Youngmi Kim

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Kim, Y. (2018). Hell Joseon: Polarization and Social Contention in a Neo-liberal Age. In: Kim, Y. (eds) Korea’s Quest for Economic Democratization. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57066-2_1

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