[Dialogue] National Defense Reform and the Grand Transformation of Korean Society / Shin Sang-cheol, Lee Nam Ju, Lee Tae-ho, Choo Jihyun
The Quarterly Changbi 195, Spring 2022
Abstract
Changbi’s yearlong series—in which we have thought about the tasks for the grand transformation of Korean society ahead of the 2022 presidential election, where we have examined such major issues as balanced regional development, the Candlelight Revolution, and societal inequalities—ends with this issue’s dialogue on “National Defense Reform and the Grand Transformation of Korean Society.” Moderated by political scientist Lee Nam Ju, three experts examine how the sanctified areas of national defense and security are related to progress in our society’s democracy: former member of the Joint Civil and Military Investigation team of the ROKS Cheonan Incident Shin Sang-cheol, director of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy Peace and Disarmament Center Lee Tae-ho, and sociologist Choo Jihyun. Through earnest discussions about the concept of security, changes in the national defense model, and the truth of the ROKS Cheonan Sinking, they guide us toward the necessity for a paradigm shift in the role that the military should play in a democratic society. They also convincingly argue that reforms in national defense have the power to lead in the grand transformation of our society into a new dimension.