According to a report from the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, South Korea has made a notable leap in its democracy index, climbing from 41st place last year to 22nd this year. The institute publishes an annual report on the state of democracy worldwide, categorizing 179 countries into four classifications: liberal democracy, electoral democracy, electoral authoritarianism, and closed authoritarianism. The report indicates that South Korea has restored its status as a liberal democracy, a classification that requires not only free and fair multiparty elections but also checks and balances on the executive by the judiciary and legislature, along with the protection of civil liberties.

Last year, the report classified South Korea as an electoral democracy, reflecting concern over democratic backsliding, particularly in nations like South Korea, Argentina, India, Indonesia, and Mexico. It even depicted South Korea as a prime example of shrinking democratic freedoms, notably including an image from a rally demanding the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. However, this year, the outlook appears more positive, with the report highlighting successful resistance against authoritarian tendencies after a failed attempt to impose martial law by the current administration, suggesting that South Korea is now close to being designated as a fully democratized nation after only a year of following an authoritarian trend.