How strong is the role of civil society in Korea?

Civil society, in the form of organizations such as trade unions, teachers' unions, student groups and religious groups, played a very important role in the struggle for democracy in Korea in the mid-1980s. Their protests against authoritarian government eventually led to the issuing of a statement on democratic reforms by then President Chun Doo Hwan in June 1987. In December 1987, presidential elections were held, but two opposition candidates split the vote, handing victory to the former army general and frustrating citizens who opposed the existing order. Anti-government protests thus continued after procedural democracy (elections, increased freedoms, etc.) was introduced. The principal organizations constituting civil society at this time had a vision of democracy that went beyond the procedural reforms that had taken place and pursued more radical goals such as socioeconomic equality and national reunification.