The article references Jean-Jacques Rousseau's assertion from 'The Social Contract' that citizens only feel free during elections and become subservient once their representatives take over. This critique highlights the intrinsic limitations and deceptions present in representative democracy today, despite the progress made since the establishment of universal suffrage. Rousseau posits that sovereignty is not merely the right to govern or individual rights but a collective will of the community that cannot be transferred, aligning with South Korea's constitutional principle that sovereignty resides with the people.

The author discusses the inadequacies of representative democracy, where individual sovereignty is often powerless against administrative authority, leading to concerns over whether representative systems genuinely fulfill the common good. Various democratic nations recognize these limits and have implemented approaches to rectify them, one of which is the citizens' assembly. This system aims to bridge the gap between the electorate and lawmakers, ensuring that citizens can have a more direct influence in governance.

In his new book, 'The Illusion That Citizens Are the Masters', Professor Jeong Jeong-hwa asserts that citizens' assemblies could be the model for a new type of democracy. The assembly is formed by creating a statistically representative sample of the population based on demographic distribution, socio-economic background, and personal willingness to participate. The article provides insights into the historical evolution of democracy, critiques the current status of representative democracy, and puts forward citizens' assemblies as a viable alternative to enhance democratic participation.