Democracy exists between two seemingly contradictory impulses: an urge to institutionalize politics and a drive to resist and disrupt institutions. Citizens continually adjust the balance between these impulses, making them complement, not destroy, each other. In this context, South Korea’s “Revolution of Light,” referring to the glowing K-pop light sticks young protesters carried into Seoul’s streets during the 2024 constitutional crisis, demonstrates that democracy can effectively fight back against far-right authoritarianism without violence and disorder. Even a vibrant democracy with a dynamic economy can backslide, but when citizens’ collective actions unite with functional institutions, democracy prevails.
