Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Emerging Cleavages in Korean Society: Region, Generation, Ideology, and Class

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Korea’s Quest for Economic Democratization

Abstract

An analysis of voting behaviour since democratization had traditionally shown the strength of two main cleavages in the Korean electorate: region and ideology. In recent years a generational divide has become apparent in both local and general elections, with the older segment of the electorate supporting the conservatives and the younger one voting for the progressive parties. Drawing from data from the Korea Barometer from 2001 to 2010 Kim and Park revisit the salience of various political cleavages, paying special attention to the role of a fourth, thus far under-explored, cleavage: class. Is class making a ‘re-entry’ in political analysis as a key category to understand Korean society?

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bornschier, S. (2010). The new cultural divide and the two-dimensional political space in Western Europe. West European Politics, 33(3), 419–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bulhwange Mun Danneun Gagedeultt Jayeongeopja Biyul Yeokdae Choejeo (Shops closing over depression, the lowest rate of the self-employed business) Hankook Ilbo (6 March 2015). http://www.hankookilbo.com/v/9d00c379343b40faa557f06820915185. Accessed June 10, 2016.

  • Carmines, E. G., Ensley, M., & Wagner, M. W. (2012). Political ideology in American politics: One, two, or none? Forum, 10(4), 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, J. (2002). Minjuhwa Ihuui Minjujuui: Hanguk Minjujuuiui Bosujeok Giwongwa Wigi (Democracy after democratization: The crisis and origin of conservative democracy in South Korea). Seoul: Humanitas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enyedi, Z. (2008). The social and attitudinal basis of political parties: Cleavage politics revisited. European Review, 16(13), 287–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, M. N., Mackie, T., Valen, H., et al. (Eds.). (1992). Electoral change. Responses to evolving social und attitudinal structures in western countries.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickel, J. (2016, April 8). Global inequality may be much worse than we think. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com. Accessed January 1, 2017.

  • Im, H. (2004). Faltering democratic consolidation in South Korea: Democracy at the end of the “Three Kims” era. Democratization, 11(5), 179–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IMF-ro Sijakdoen Jayeongeop Wigi, Haebeobeun? (Solution for the crisis of self-employed business since IMF) Presian (21 October 2011). http://www.pressian.com/news/article.html?no=37292. Accessed June 10, 2016.

  • Inglehart, R. (1997). Modernization and postmodernization: Cultural, economic and political change in 43 societies. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang, W. J. (2012). Hanguk Minjujuuieseo Gyeongjejeok Bulpeongdeunge Dehan Insikui Jeongchijeok Hyogwa: Minjujuuiui Hyoneongseonge Dehan Hyogwareul jungsimeuro (The political consequence of citizens’ perceptions of economic inequality in Korea: Focusing on its effect on the efficacy of democracy). Hankukgwa Kukjejeongchi, 28(2), 145–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang, W. T. (2003). Hnkukui Seongeo Jeongchi: Inyeom, Jiyeok, Sedaewa Media (Korean electoral politics: Ideology, region, generation and media). Seoul: Pureongil.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang, W. T. (2013). Hankuk Seongeoeseoui Gyegeub Baeban Topyowa Sahoe Gyecheong (“Class betrayal voting” in South Korean elections). Hankuk Geongdang Hakhoebo, 12(3), 5–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y. H. (2001). Hanguk Jeongdang Jeongchiui ihae (Understanding party politics in Korea). Seoul: Nanam Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, K. H. (2007). Waehwanwigi jeonhu juteksijang gujobyeonhwawa jutekjeongchaek (Structural changes in the housing market and government policy: Before and after the outbreak of the Asian Currency Crisis of 1997). Gyeongjehak Yeongu, 55(4), 369–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y. (2008a). Intra-party politics and minority coalition government in South Korea. Japanese Journal of Political Science, 9(3), 367–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y. (2008b). Explaining minority coalition government and governability in South Korea: A review essay. Korea Observer, 39(1), 59–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, B. J. (2010a). Sodeukyanggeukhwaui uimi: Gyeongjejeongchekjeok uimiwa jisokganeonghan Seongjange dehan Hameureul jungsimeuro (Income disparity and its effects on “sustainable growth” in Korea). Sahoegwahak Yeongu, 22(2), 39–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, W. (2010b). Does class matter? Social cleavages in South Korea’s electoral politics in the era of neoliberalism. Review of Political Economy, 22(4), 589–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y. (2011). Politics of coalition in South Korea: Between institutions and culture. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y. (2014). The 2012 parliamentary and presidential elections in South Korea. Electoral Studies, 34(2), 326–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, H. M., Choi, J. Y., & Cho, J. (2008). Changing cleavage structure in new democracies: An empirical analysis of political cleavages in Korea. Electoral Studies, 27(1), 136–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitschelt, H. (1994). The transformation of European social democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kriesi, H. (1998). The transformation of cleavage politics—The 1997 Stein Rokkan lecture. European Journal of Political Research, 33(2), 165–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon, H. Y. (2008). A dynamic analysis of partisan voting: The issue salience effect of unemployment in South Korea. Electoral Studies, 27(3), 518–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, G. (1998). Hangukui Sungeowa Jiyeokjuui (Regionalism and elections in Korea). Seoul: Oreum Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y.-M. (2013). Hankuk Sahoe Gyecheonggyunyeolui Deongjanggwa Jeongdang Jaepyeonseong: 2000 nyeondae Seongeo Jungshimeuro (Korean society’s class cleavage and party realignment: Elections in the 2000s) (Doctoral dissertation). Seoul: Seoul National University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipset, S. M., & Rokkan, S. (1967). Cleavage structures, party systems, and voter alignments: An introduction. In S. M. Lipset & S. Rokkan (Eds.), Party systems and voter alignments: Cross-national perspectives. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nam, E.-Y. (2009). Wehwanwigi Ihu Gyecheongui Yanggeukhwa: Byeonhwadoen Ilsanggwa Sobisenghwal (The gap between social stratifications in the aftermath of the 1997 financial crisis: The change of living conditions and daily life as a consumer). Josayeongu, 10(1), 1–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, C. W. (2009/2007). Hanguk Daeseoneseo Sahoegyunyeori Yugwonjaui Tupyoseontaege Michin Yeonghyang (Effects of social and ideological cleavages on vote choice in the Korean presidential election of democracy 2007). Hyundae Jeongchi Yeongu, 2(1): 85–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Projected GDP Ranking (2016–2020) Statistic Times (26 December 2016). http://statisticstimes.com/economy/projected-world-gdp-ranking.php. Accessed February 1, 2017.

  • Rokkan, S. (1970). Citizens, elections, parties. Approaches to the comparative Study of the processes of development. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, R., & Urwin, D. (1969). Social cohesion, political parties and strains in regimes. Comparative Political Studies, 2, 7–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rose, R., & Urwin, D. (1970) Persistence and change in western party systems since 1945. Political Studies XVIII: 287–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sohn, H. (1995). Hyeonde Hanguk Jeongchi Irongwa Yeoksa: 1945–2003 (Contemporary Korean politics: Theory and history). Seoul: Sahoe Pyeonglon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Son, N.-G. (2010). Daehanminkuk jeongchisahoe jido: Sudokwonpyeon (Korean social and political map: Capital section). Seoul: Humanitas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treier, S., & Sunshine Hillygus, D. (2009). The nature of political ideology in the contemporary electorate. Public Opinion Quarterly, 73(4), 679–703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ufen, A. (2012). Party systems, Critical junctures and cleavages in Southeast Asia. Asian Survey, 52(3), 441–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wae Saedae Tupyo Yangsang Tturyeothaejyeotna? (Why generation voting behaviour became clear?) Weekly Kyunghyang (24 December 2012). http://m.weekly.khan.co.kr/view.html?med_id=weekly&artid=201212242003551&code=. Accessed March 10, 2013.

  • Werlin, H. H. (1994). Ghana and South Korea: explaining development disparities—an essay in honor of Carl Rosberg. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 29(3–4), 205–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Youngmi Kim

  2. Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Sunhee Park

Authors
  1. Youngmi Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sunhee Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Youngmi Kim .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Youngmi Kim

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kim, Y., Park, S. (2018). Emerging Cleavages in Korean Society: Region, Generation, Ideology, and Class. In: Kim, Y. (eds) Korea’s Quest for Economic Democratization. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57066-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation