The Persistence of Protest: Labor and Social Movements In South Korea

South Korea’s political economy is defined by a vibrant tradition of mass protest and collective solidarity. From opposing military dictatorships and authoritarian industrialization to contesting neoliberal labor precarity, political corruption, state neglect and violence, and deepening inequality under globalized financial capitalism, protesters from diverse walks of life–including workers, students, tenants, farmers, bereaved parents, artists, youth, migrants, religious leaders, feminist and queer activists, human rights advocates and, most recently, K-pop fans–have repeatedly taken to the streets to challenge entrenched systems of power and demand fundamental social, political, and economic change. This session invites papers that explore how, why and under what conditions protest persists as an enduring form of contentious politics and collective solidarity amid changing landscapes of democracy and capitalism. Papers are particularly welcome that consider protest actors across the ideological spectrum, investigate the distinct spaces and repertoires of collective action, and situate South Korean labor and social movements within broader global, comparative and historical contexts.