Distinguished Speakers Series: “The Domestic and Geopolitical Implications of South Korea’s Political Crisis” with Professor Stephan Haggard

The San Diego World Affairs Council Presents

"The Domestic and Geopolitical Implications of South Korea’s Political Crisis"

featuring:

Professor Stephan Haggard

Monday, March 24th, 2025

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Zoom link to be sent to all registrants via the

registration confirmation email.

About the Program

Late on the evening of December 3, 2024, South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an unannounced nationally televised address. He stated his action was justified by the need to protect the country from “North Korean communist forces” and “antistate forces,” and to “rebuild and protect” South Korea from “falling into ruin.” Subsequently, not only was Yoon Suk Yeol impeached, but so was his acting successor. Having evolved from several decades of political authoritarianism following the Korean War, South Korea came to be cited by many as a model of democracy due to its relatively peaceful and internally-driven democratic transition. What is the political situation in South Korea today? What are the roots of South Korea’s political polarization? What are the impacts of the political crisis on South Korea’s strategic relationships with the US, North Korea, and the geopolitics of Northeast Asia? UC San Diego Professor Steph Haggard will discuss these issues during his presentation…which will be following by moderated Q&A.

About Professor Stephan Haggard

Stephan Haggard is a professor at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy & Strategy. He is the Lawrence and Sallye Krause Distinguished Professor Emeritus and serves as the Director Emeritus for the Korea-Pacific Program. Professor Haggard is Research Director for Global Governance at the University of California Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation based at UC San Diego. He teaches courses on the international relations of the Asia-Pacific and Korean peninsula covering political economy as well as security issues. In particular, he has done extensive research on North Korea. Prof. Haggard also has a long-standing interest in transitions to and from democratic rule and the current phenomenon of democratic backsliding. In 2024 Professor Haggard was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences.