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Has South Korea accomplished democratic consolidation since the Constitution was revised in 1987? Whereas political freedom has improved, the NSL is generally pointed out as the main obstacle to full freedom but it is not the only one to guarantee respect for human rights. Since full respect for human rights is not guaranteed, democratic consolidation has not been achieved. This book analyzes the issue based on the state of human rights that are an important part of democracy. The starting points are the 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1987 South Korean Constitution and the 2001 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act which are empirically tested. Definitions of democratic consolidation are applied. The study first investiga- tes legislation and human rights institutions, including the National Security Law (NSL), the Con-stitutional Court, the NHRC, adherence to international human rights law and the Universal Periodic Review. Then the impact of inter-Korean relations on human rights are reviewed based on the NSL, dispatches of leaflets across the border and conscientious objectors. Finally, freedom of expression, assembly and association, including the state of sexual minorities, trials of ex-presidents, death penalty, human trafficking and torture are studied.

Contents:

About the Author
Acknowledgments
Acroyms
Introduction:
- Purpose
- Theoretical Framework
- Method
- Sources
- Organization and Scope
- Korean Names and Terminology
Legislation and Human Rights Institutions:
- Introduction
- The National Security Law
- The Constitutional Court
- The National Human Rights Commission
- Korea and International Human Rights Law
- Korea and the Universal Periodic Review
- Summary
The Impact of Inter-Korean Relations on Human Rights:
- Introduction
- The Impact of the National Security Law
- Dispatches of Leaflets Across the Inter-Korean Border
- Conscientious Objectors and Introduction of Alternative Service
- Summary
Specific Human Rights Issues:
- Introduction
- Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association
- Freedom of Expression, Assembly and Association for Sexual Minorities
- The 19951996 Trials of Ex-presidents Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo
- Death Penalty
- Human Trafficking
- Torture
- Summary
Conclusions:
- Adherence to Human Rights Norms
- Democratic Consolidation and Human Rights
Chronology
Appendix: National Security Law
Bibliography
Index

Readership: Scholars on South Korean politics and students on advanced level; specialized courses on South Korean politics.
Key Features:

There are many studies on how democracy has worked since 1987, when the Constitution was revised allowing for direct presidential elections and political freedom. However, to the authors knowledge no comprehensive study has been made on the state of human rights from 19872022 departing from the 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1987 South Korean Constitution and the 2001 National Human Rights Commission Act. Articles in these acts which are possible to test empirically are analysed and definitions of democratic consolidation are applied. Data were selected to find representative issues which are possible to find consecutive information about. While the negative impact of the NSL is often recorded, other aspects of human rights are less frequently so. The study is based on works both in English and Korean and will enhance understanding of how democracy has worked in South Korea since 1987

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