Freedom, Eclipsed

When the state loses the will to enforce the rule of law, the conditions are ripe for the eclipse of democracy. The younger generations are seduced by a quicker path to power, and the older generations lose faith that the system is worth defending. Just as Weimar Germany let Berlin descend into chaos and Gotterdammerung, it is happening in Seoul today. Are there any South Koreans (hint: the brave woman in this photo is a North Korean defector) who are willing to defend their own freedom, or is that just another American obsession?

No, this isn’t an isolated incident. Newly-minted Korea watchers, welcome. You can see links to media reports of other similar episodes here.