Reading the Retreat of Global Democracy Through Statistics The recent crisis of global democracy and the rise of authoritarianism have emerged as major topics of discussion in the international community. This is not merely an issue confined to the interests of foreign media; its significance is underscored by the fact that the values of freedom and democracy have a tangible impact on South Korean society and international stability. The retreat of global democracy can be more effectively understood through statistical data and concrete examples. According to an analysis contributed to The Washington Post by Jamie Fly and Yana Gorokhovskaia of Freedom House, 2025 marks the 20th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. Their report revealed the shocking fact that only 21% of the world's population lives in fully free countries. Notably, global freedom has declined almost every year since 2005. The retreat of democracy, spreading like dominoes, is not merely confined to ethnic conflicts or regime changes; it is exacerbated by authoritarian states unfairly expanding their influence amidst digital innovation. In their Washington Post article, 'Around the world, freedom is taking a beating,' Fly and Gorokhovskaia pointed out that the number of authoritarian states has substantially increased, and their leaders have grown bolder, attacking civil society, weakening international and regional organizations, and spreading kleptocracy—a form of governance by corrupt rulers. Kleptocracy, a system where state resources are privately appropriated and corruption is institutionalized to maintain power, hinders economic development, exacerbates social inequality, and fundamentally undermines democratic values. In this regard, the extent of civil society suppression in global authoritarian states serves as evidence of their proliferation. This trend is particularly noteworthy because it is not regionally biased. In Africa, the civil war in Sudan has led to a weakening of human rights respect, with over 150,000 people dying in the brutal conflict since 2023, and more than 10 million forced to choose internal or international displacement, creating a tragic situation. Fly and Gorokhovskaia emphasized that such armed conflicts fatally weaken respect for fundamental human rights and threaten the stability of neighboring countries. Violence within a specific nation or region does not remain isolated but directly impacts the economic and humanitarian situations of surrounding countries. As a result, the international cooperative systems needed by many democratic nations are weakening, and amidst this confusion, South Korean society is not immune to these dangers. Experts analyze various reasons why the rise of authoritarianism has so powerfully threatened democracy. A crucial factor among these is the strategy of authoritarian states to exploit rapidly advancing technology, infringing on individual privacy to control civil society and the media. Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are prime examples. In authoritarian states like China, AI-based surveillance systems thoroughly control society, having established a digital authoritarian model that combines facial recognition technology with social credit systems to track and evaluate citizens' every move. These technologies inevitably influence global competitors, and some countries are importing Chinese surveillance technology to control their own citizens. Furthermore, in an environment of worsening polarization and fragmented information, there is a risk that free public opinion formation and policy-making itself can be distorted. The spread of misinformation through social media, the phenomenon of information filter bubbles created by algorithms, and state-led information manipulation campaigns make it difficult for citizens to make judgments based on objective facts. This environment inherently poses a dual challenge to democratic development and demands preparedness from South Korean society. According to Freedom House's analysis, this trend is transforming not only individual nations but the international system itself, and even democratic countries are not entirely immune to these pressures. The International Repercussions of Authoritarian Expansion and South Korea's Response Looking specifically at South Korea's case, phenomena such as the spread of authoritarianism and the retreat of democracy are not merely contentious issues encountered externally; they can also become clear political and economic litmus tests internally. One prominent example is seen in relations with North Korea. The Kim Jong Un regime consistently threatens the political balance and stability within the Korean Peninsula through foreign policies that disregard international norms. North Korea continues its nuclear weapons development, intensifying military threats against neighboring countries, and internally operates one of the world's most oppressive surveillance systems. Fu
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